Gender Differences in Adhering to National Guidelines in a Community Lipid Clinic

The aggressive treatment of hypercholesterolemia improves morbidity and mortality in patients with a history of cardiovascular disease irrespective of gender. Electronically tracked data on 4324 patients enrolled in a community lipid clinic were analyzed for gender differences in lipid values and adherence to national guidelines in lipid management. Women were older, more likely to be diabetic and/or hypertensive, and have a family history of coronary heart disease. Women also had higher initial total cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein, and triglyceride levels and were more likely to be at goal at entry for high‐density lipoprotein. Men were more likely to have coronary heart disease and lower high‐density lipoprotein and were more likely to be at goal at entry for triglyceride level. There were no gender differences in low‐density lipoprotein at goal at entry or rate of current smoking. All lipid parameters appeared better with age, irrespective of gender. More men than women reached goal for their low‐density lipoprotein (61.5% vs 51.7%) and triglyceride (36.9% vs 25.1%) levels, whereas more women than men reached goal for their high‐density lipoprotein (33.1% vs 22.2%). The authors conclude that there are significant gender differences in lipid values at entry to a community lipid clinic and in achieving National Cholesterol Education Program targets following the initiation of therapy. A possible gender‐independent survivorship effect exists for low‐density lipoprotein and high‐density lipoprotein.