title: Achieving recommended low density lipoprotein cholesterol goals and the factors associated with target achievement of hypercholesterolemia patients with rosuvastatin in primary care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hypercholesterolemia is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and requires continuous management. The role of primary physicians in this regard is important, yet the factors associated with successful lipid lowering treatments in primary clinics have not been clearly identified. We aimed to evaluate the rate of successful hypercholesterolemia treatment in Korean primary care, and to identify the factors associated with achieving low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) targets.
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively recruited and retrospectively assessed 1851 Korean patients with hypercholesterolemia who visited family physicians and were prescribed rosuvastatin for the first time. LDL-C lowering targets, defined according to NCEP ATP III guidelines, were evaluated at 6 months after the first prescription. The factors associated with achieving these targets were also assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 87.6% of our participants attained their LDL-C goals. In multiple logistic regression analysis, good adherence to medication was strongly associated with the achievement of target LDL-C levels, whereas higher cardiovascular risk factors including diabetes (in both sexes), low high density lipoprotein, and current smoking status (in males), and hypertension (in females) were related to LDL-C target level failures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our observations of the short period for hypercholesterolemia in Korean primary care has revealed that the rate of achieving target LDL-C levels was high in these patients, whereas patients at higher risk for cardiovascular disease tended to have lower LDL-C achievement outcomes. Primary care physicians should pay more attention to patients showing higher cardiovascular risk and stress the need for good adherence and management regimens in these individuals.
authors: Department of Family Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Jung Ah
authors: JA
authors: Lee
authors: Sung
authors: S
authors: Sunwoo
authors: Young Sik
authors: YS
authors: Kim
authors: Han Jin
authors: HJ
authors: Oh
authors: Hee-Cheol
authors: HC
authors: Kang
authors: Kyung-Chae
authors: KC
authors: Park
authors: Dong Hyuk
authors: DH
authors: Sin
authors: Sang Yeoup
authors: SY
authors: Lee
authors: Yun Jun
authors: YJ
authors: Yang
authors: Byung Yeon
authors: BY
authors: Yu
authors: Chul-Min
authors: CM
authors: Kim
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005464:Fluorobenzenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium; D012907:Smoking; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D005464:Fluorobenzenes; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011743:Pyrimidines; D013449:Sulfonamides; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium