Computerized history-taking as a tool to manage dyslipidemia.
BACKGROUND
Validated guidelines to manage low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol are utilized inconsistently or not at all even though their application lowers the incidence of coronary events. New approaches are needed, therefore, to implement these guidelines in everyday practice.


RESULTS
We compared an automated method for applying The National Cholesterol Education Panel (NCEP) guidelines with results from routine care for managing LDL-cholesterol. The automated method comprised computerized history-taking and analysis of historical data without physician input. Results from routine care were determined for 213 unselected patients and compared with results from interviews of the same 213 patients by a computerized history-taking program. Data extracted from hospital charts showed that routine care typically did not collect sufficient information to stratify risk and assign treatment targets for LDL-cholesterol and that there were inconsistencies in identifying patients with normal or elevated levels of LDL-cholesterol in relation to risk. The computerized interview program outperformed routine care in collecting historical data relevant to stratifying risk, assigning treatment targets, and clarifying the presence of hypercholesterolemia relative to risk.


CONCLUSIONS
Computerized history-taking coupled with automated analysis of the clinical data can outperform routine medical care in applying NCEP guidelines for stratifying risk and identifying patients with hypercholesterolemia in relation to risk.
Institute for Digital Medicine, Stuttgart, Germany. dzakim@pacbell.net
David
D
Zakim
Christine
C
Fritz
Niko
N
Braun
Peter
P
Fritz
M Dominik
MD
Alscher
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000628:therapy; D003657:Decision Making; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000628:therapy*; D057286:Electronic Health Records / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D008875:Middle Aged; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL