Improved cholesterol management in coronary heart disease patients enrolled in an HMO.
The purpose of the study was to describe the effect of physician reminders on the measurement of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and treatment to achieve an LDL-C goal of < or = 100 mg/dL in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients. After reminders were initiated, the number of CHD patients without a documented LDL-C was reduced from 30% to 18%, between January 1997 and July 1998, and the percentage of CHD patients achieving the LDL-C goal improved from 10% to 27%. Thus, reminders can be an effective tool in improving cholesterol management of CHD patients. In contrast, a cholesterol-lowering clinic made available to some physicians, in addition to the reminders, was rarely used.
Khoury
A T
AT
Kaiser Permanente of Ohio, USA. allan.khoury@kp.org
Wan
G J
GJ
Niedermaier
O N
ON
LeBrun
B
B
Stiebeling
B
B
Roth
M
M
Alexander
C M
CM
D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine; D019468:Disease Management; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized; D009820:Ohio; D017010:Reminder Systems; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D008078:Cholesterol, LDL