[Current practice in low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol measurements for the clinical management of hyperlipidemia].
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.
Nakamura
Yuichi
Y
Division of Cardiology, Niigata University, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata.
Miida
Takashi
T
Hanyu
Osamu
O
Sasagawa
Yasuo
Y
Suzuki
Kaoru
K
Aizawa
Yoshifusa
Y
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
D008078:Cholesterol, LDL