Prevalence of adequate control of increased serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in self-pay or Medicare patients versus Medicaid or private insurance patients followed in a University General Medicine Clinic.
In a study of 514 patients with increased serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol followed in a general medicine clinic at a university hospital, the serum LDL cholesterol in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), other atherosclerotic vascular disease, or diabetes mellitus was <100 mg/dl in 219 of 276 patients (79%) with Medicaid or private insurance and in 28 of 67 self-pay or Medicare patients (42%) without pharmaceutical coverage (p <0.001). The serum LDL cholesterol was <130 mg/dl in patients with 2+ risk factor and a 10-year risk for CHD of < or =20% or <160 mg/dl in patients with a 0 to 1 risk factor, and a 10-year risk for CHD of <10% in 54 of 141 patients (38%) with Medicaid or private insurance and in 5 of 30 self-pay or Medicare patients (17%) (p <0.025).
Varma
Raja
R
Department of Medicine, Cardiology Division, Westchester Medical Center/New York Medical College, Macy Pavilion, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA.
Aronow
Wilbert S
WS
Gandelman
Glenn
G
Zammit
Christopher
C
D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005382:Financing, Personal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008484:Medicaid / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017057:Medically Uninsured / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006278:Medicare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D015995:Prevalence
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors