Open AccessKnowledge of Cholesterol Levels and Targets in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease
Author(s) -
Cheng Susan,
Lichtman Judith H.,
Amatruda Joan M.,
Smith Grace L.,
Mattera Jennifer A.,
Roumanis Sarah A.,
Krumholz Harlan M.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
preventive cardiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1751-7141
pISSN - 1520-037X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1520-037x.2005.3939.x
Subject(s) - medicine , coronary artery disease , cholesterol , cardiology , disease , coronary disease , coronary heart disease
Little is known about the extent to which patients are aware of nationally‐recommended cholesterol and lipid subfraction targets. The authors interviewed 738 patients hospitalized with coronary artery disease to assess their knowledge of their low‐density lipoprotein, high‐density lipoprotein, and total cholesterol levels as well as corresponding national targets. Only 8%, 8%, and 43% of patients could recall their low‐density lipoprotein, high‐density lipoprotein, and total cholesterol values, respectively. Only 5%, 2%, and 50% could correctly name targets for these values. Knowledge of cholesterol targets was particularly poor among women, nonwhites, and patients without any college education. Patients with multiple cardiac risk factors and patients with a previous history of cardiovascular disease were no more knowledgeable about their cholesterol targets than those without these conditions. These findings suggest that current cholesterol education efforts appear inadequate, particularly for women, nonwhites, and patients without any college education.