title: Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Target Goal Attainment Rate and Physician Perceptions about Target Goal Achievement in Korean Patients with Diabetes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aims to investigate the discrepancy between clinicians' perceptions and actual achievement rates of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in Korean patients with diabetes according to updated American Diabetes Association (ADA)/American College of Cardiology Foundation (ACC) recommendations.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a multi-center, retrospective, non-interventional, observational study. Diabetic patients aged 18 years or older were eligible if they had been diagnosed with hypercholesterolemia or were receiving a lipid-lowering therapy between May 2010 and August 2010. The information was obtained by reviewing medical records and using a self-completed questionnaire to examine physician perceptions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 2,591 subjects who satisfied the inclusion criteria were enrolled. Highest-risk and high-risk patients accounted for 61.9% and 38.1% of the patients, respectively. Although most (96.3%) underwent a statin monotherapy or a statin-based combination therapy, just 47.4% of patients attained the LDL-C target. However, the physicians' perceptions on target achievement rate (70.6%) were different from the actual results (47.4%). Many patients (65.3%) remained on the starting doses of statins, despite evidence of poor achievement of lipid goals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Only less than half of patients with diabetes attained the LDL-C goal. The surveys showed that poor physician performance might be due to the lack of recognition on ADA/ACC consensus causing a low LDL-C target attainment rate. Therefore, changes in doctor perception are needed to attain target LDL-C level and reduce cardiovascular risk in Korean patients with diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jenie Yoonoo
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Chang Hee
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Woo Je
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Cheol Young
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Sung Rae
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kun-Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Moon Kyu
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sung Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Joong-Yeol
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Park