Diagnosis and treatment of dyslipidemia are neglected in patients with peripheral artery disease.
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.
Poussa
Heikki
H
Department of Surgery, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Strandberg
Timo E
TE
Tikkanen
Ilkka
I
Kauhanen
Petteri
P
Lepäntalo
Mauri
M
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
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D008055:Lipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol