title: CEPHEUS SA: a South African survey on the undertreatment of hypercholesterolaemia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the CEntralised Pan-South African survey on tHE Under-treatment of hypercholeSterolaemia (CEPHEUS SA) was to evaluate the current use and efficacy of lipidlowering drugs (LLDs), and to identify possible patient and physician characteristics associated with failure, if any, to achieve low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) targets.
  
  
  METHODS
  The survey was conducted in 69 study centres in South Africa and recruited consecutive consenting patients who had been prescribed LLDs for at least three months. One visit was scheduled for data collection, including fasting plasma lipid and glucose levels. Physicians and patients completed questionnaires regarding their knowledge, awareness and perceptions of hypercholesterolaemia and the treatment thereof.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 3 001 patients recruited, 2 996 were included in the final analyses. The mean age was 59.4 years, and 47.5% were female. Only 60.5 and 52.3% of patients on LLDs for at least three months achieved the LDL-C target recommended by the NCEP ATP III/2004 updated NCEP ATP III and the Fourth JETF/South African guidelines, respectively. Being male, older than 40 years, falling into the lower-risk categories, compliance with the medication regimen, and patient knowledge that the LDL-C goal had been reached, were associated with the highest probability of attaining LDL-C goals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this survey highlight the sub-optimal lipid control achieved in many South African patients taking lipid-lowering therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa. Frederick.raal@wits.ac.za
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Raal
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schamroth
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Blom
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marx
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rajput
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haus
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cassim
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nortjé
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vandehoven
authors.forename: A-M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Temmerman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001364:Awareness; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010465:Perception; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL