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Physician response to screening for hypercholesterolaemia in a coronary care unit
Author(s) -
Cox S. V.,
Woodhouse S.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 0004-8291
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-5994.1991.tb01338.x
Subject(s) - medicine , coronary care unit , myocardial infarction , risk factor , medical record , coronary heart disease , coronary artery disease , emergency medicine , retrospective cohort study , cholesterol
Hypercholesterolaemia is a known risk factor for coronary artery disease. This study describes a retrospective analysis of 176 patients admitted to the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) in a six month period with an admission fasting serum cholesterol of greater than 5.5 millimoles per litre (mmols/L). The patient records were examined at least six months after hospital discharge to determine what action, if any, was instituted in response to their hypercholesterolaemia. One hundred and thirty‐four (76%) patients had a discharge diagnosis of myocardial ischaemia or infarction. Of the 176 patients, 73 were referred to a dietitian, 31 were given dietary advice by a medical officer, 13 were commenced on lipid‐lowering drugs with nine continuing lipid‐lowering drugs and only 13 patients were referred to this hospital's lipid clinic. Sixty‐nine (39%) received no response to their hypercholesterolaemia. It is likely that our experience is not unique and greater attention to CCU measured lipid results and risk factor modification should be instituted by physicians. (Aust NZ J Med 1991; 21: 401–404.)