Open AccessPrevalence of persistent lipid abnormalities in statin‐treated patients: Belgian results of the Dyslipidaemia International Study ( DYSIS )
Author(s) -
Devroey D.,
Radermecker R. P.,
Van der Schueren B. J.,
Torbeyns B.,
Jaken R. J.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
international journal of clinical practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.756
H-Index - 98
eISSN - 1742-1241
pISSN - 1368-5031
DOI - 10.1111/ijcp.12315
Subject(s) - medicine , ezetimibe , statin , cohort , cholesterol , lipoprotein , cohort study
Summary Aim A substantial number of cardiovascular events are not prevented by statin therapy, which is still regarded as the first‐line therapy for hyperlipidaemia. Insights into the prevalence of lipid abnormalities of statin‐treated patients in Belgium are lacking and may shed light on an unmet medical need for optimal use of current lipid‐lowering therapies. This study aims to assess the prevalence and types of persistent lipid abnormalities in patients receiving statin therapy in a real‐life primary care setting in Belgium. Methods This cross‐sectional cohort study was designed to estimate the prevalence of specific lipid abnormalities in statin‐treated patients in Belgium. Total cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol ( LDL ‐C), high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol ( HDL ‐C) and triglycerides were recorded from the patients' medical record. Patient's total cardiovascular risk and corresponding lipid treatment goals were defined based on the recent European Society of Cardiology/European Atherosclerosis Society recommendations. Results Overall, 56.2% of the statin‐treated patients were not at goal for LDL ‐C. Low HDL ‐C (< 40 mg dl −1 in men, < 45 mg dl −1 in women) and elevated triglycerides (> 150 mg dl −1 ) were seen in 16.3% and 29.0% of patients, respectively. Very high‐risk patients were more likely to have LDL ‐C not at goal (71.4% of them), while 60.0% of high‐risk patients and 34.1% of moderate‐risk patients were not at goal for LDL ‐C. Use of ezetimibe (10 mg) was strongly associated with meeting LDL ‐C goals ( OR 16.9, p < 0.0001). Conclusion In Belgium, lipid abnormalities remained highly prevalent despite statin treatment, with more than half of all patients not reaching their LDL ‐C treatment goal. This finding clearly indicates that more aggressive lipid‐lowering treatment is required in clinical daily practice to achieve the goals of the current guidelines.