[Appropriateness of lipid-lowering treatment and cardiovascular risk in patients with hypercholesterolemia].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the appropriateness of lipid-lowering treatment and to determine the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with hypercholesterolemia.


METHODS
The study population comprised all the patients diagnosed with hypercholesterolemia in three urban health centres. A sample of 724 patients was obtained through a one-stage conglomerate method. A descriptive study was performed with two types of designs: retrospective and longitudinal, and cross-sectional. For the first we used the new Sheffield tables for cardiovascular risk; for the second, the Framingham categorical tables (Grundy).


RESULTS
Among patients in primary prevention, prescription of lipid-lowering therapy was appropriate in 44.2%. A total of 8.9% (SE = 1.1) of the patients aged 30-74 years in primary prevention had a high absolute risk (>/= 20% over 10 years). Six percent (0.8) had a high relative risk and 18.1% (2.0) had a moderately above-average risk.


CONCLUSIONS
More than the half of the patients were prescribed lipid-lowering treatment that was not indicated by risk tables. The current cardiovascular risk of our patients is satisfactory.
Segade Buceta
X M
XM
Area de Atención Primaria, Santiago de Compostela, La Coruna, Spain.
Dosil Díaz
O
O
D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents