Abstract

SEGADE BUCETA, X.M.  and  DOSIL DIAZ, O.. Appropriateness of lipid-lowering treatment and cardiovascular risk in patients with hypercholesterolemia. Gac Sanit [online]. 2002, vol.16, n.4, pp.318-323. ISSN 0213-9111.

Objective: To assess the appropriateness of lipid-lowering treatment and to determine the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with hypercholesterolemia. Method: The study population comprised all the patients diagnosed with hypercholesterolemia in three urban health centres. A sample of 724 patients was obtaind through a one-stage conglomerate method. A descriptive study was performed with two types of designs: retrospective and longitudinal, and cross-sectional. For the first we used the new Sheffield tables for cardiovascular risk; for the second, the Framingham categorical tables (Grundy). Results: Among patients in primary prevention, prescription of lipid-lowering therapy was appropiate in 44.2%. A total of 8.9% (SE = 1.1) of the patients aged 30-74 years in primary prevention had a high absolute risk (≥ 20% over 10 years). Six percent (0.8) had a high relativd risk and 18.1% (2.0) had a moderately above-average risk. Conclusions: More than the half of the patients were prescribed lipid-lowering treatment that was not indicated by risk tables. The current cardiovascular risk of our patients is satisfactory.

Keywords : Hypercholesterolemia; Cardiovascular risk; Primary prevention; Primary care.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )