A secondary prevention lipid clinic reaches low-density lipoprotein cholesterol goals more often than usual cardiology care with coronary heart disease.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to determine whether enrollment in a multidisciplinary secondary prevention lipid clinic (SPLC) for 3 or more years was associated with improved adherence to lipid guidelines as compared with usual care provided by cardiologists.


METHODS
Patients with documented coronary artery disease (CAD), enrolled in a SPLC, and followed for at least 3 years were identified by the use of a computer database. The comparison group included patients with CAD who received usual care from a cardiologist during the same time period. The percentage of patients achieving low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goals at enrollment and after at least 3 years of follow-up was determined for both groups. The average total cholesterol, LDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglycerides were determined after at least 3 years of follow-up for both groups.


RESULTS
Patients enrolled in the SPLC reached the LDL-C goals more often than usual care cardiology patients (goal <100mg/dL: 81.9% vs. 72.8%, P < .001; optional goal <70 mg/dL: 41.9% vs. 28.6%, P < .001). The patients enrolled in the SPLC had lower average total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL-C and greater average HDL-C after 3 years. All the lipid parameters decreased for patients in usual cardiology care, but these changes were not statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
This multidisciplinary secondary prevention lipid clinic achieved the LDL-C goals (<100mg/dL and optional goal <70 mg/dL) more often than usual cardiology care for patients with CAD after 3 years of lipid management.
University of Houston College of Pharmacy, Houston, TX, USA.
Kim K
KK
Birtcher
Anthony J
AJ
Greisinger
Brenda J
BJ
Brehm
Oscar A
OA
Wehmanen
Loriann M
LM
Furman
Cathryn C
CC
Salinas
Madjid
M
Mirzai-Tehrane
Atasu
A
Nayak
Haroonur
H
Rashid
Ali
A
Mortazavi
D000368:Aged; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055502:Secondary Prevention / Q000379:methods*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol