title: Diagnosis and treatment of dyslipidemia are neglected in patients with peripheral artery disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to investigate how dyslipidemia was diagnosed and treated in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) in a university vascular clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our analysis included all 1 843 PAD patients (median age 71 years, interquartile range 63-79, M/W 975/868) who attended the clinic in 2002-2003 either for diagnostic angiography or for revascularization. The charts of patients tested for dyslipidemia were reviewed closer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum lipids were measured in only 214 PAD patients (11.6%). Of them 37.9% smoked, 59.8% had antihypertensive medication, 35.0% diabetes, and 30.8% a history of coronary heart disease. Mean serum cholesterol concentration was 4.5 mmol/l (SD 1.3), LDL-cholesterol 2.54 (0.48), HDL-cholesterol 1.25 (0.48), and triglycerides 1.62 (0.84). Only 40 patients (19.7%) were using statins, this was increased to 72 (33.6%) after clinic visit. Consequently, 50.0% and 53.2% met the current total cholesterol (<4.5 mmol/l) and LDL-cholesterol (<2.5 mmol/l) goals, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dyslipidemia was highly under-diagnosed among PAD patients. Serum lipids were measured only in a minority and among them serum lipid values and the use of hypolipidemic drugs were not optimal according to guidelines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Heikki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Poussa
authors.forename: Timo E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Strandberg
authors.forename: Ilkka
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tikkanen
authors.forename: Petteri
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kauhanen
authors.forename: Mauri
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lepäntalo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D008055:Lipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol