title: [Current practice in low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol measurements for the clinical management of hyperlipidemia].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) measurements in clinics were evaluated by a multiple-choice questionnaire sent to 146 physicians (78 general practitioners and 68 hospital physicians) in Niigata Prefecture, Japan.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-six percent of the general practitioners and 84% of the hospital staff measured LDL-C, and 60% of all physicians calculated LDL-C using the Friedewald formula. Sixty-two percent of general practitioners and 43% of hospital physicians took blood samples without overnight fasting and 40-50% of whom estimated LDL-C using the Friedewald formula, although the formula is reliable only for samples collected after an overnight fast. Two thirds of the physicians managed patients according to the Japan Atherosclerosis Society Guidelines (1997), whereas 40-50% based diagnoses and treatments on total cholesterol, and only 20-30% used LDL-C-based management.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Direct measurement, education and management of LDL-C not affected by diet are mandatory.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Niigata University, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata.
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miida
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hanyu
authors.forename: Yasuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sasagawa
authors.forename: Kaoru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Yoshifusa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aizawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D005194:Family Practice; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011364:Professional Practice; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL