Schmidt A, Moreira HT, Volpe GJ, Foschini VB, Lascala TF, Romano MMD, Simões MV, Santos JED, Maciel BC, Marin Neto JA. Statins Prescriptions and Lipid Levels in a Tertiary Public Hospital.
Arq Bras Cardiol 2021;
116:736-741. [PMID:
33886720 PMCID:
PMC8121392 DOI:
10.36660/abc.20190513]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
The development of a new class of medications that are highly capable of reducing LDL-cholesterol renewed the interest in the characterization of familial hypercholesterolemia patients. Nevertheless, little is known about the lipid profile of patients in tertiary healthcare centers in Brazil in order to better estimate the real occurrence of familial hypercholesterolemia, with initial suspect of LDL-cholesterol levels above 190 mg/d/L.
OBJECTIVES
This study evaluated the lipid profile (total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol) in ambulatory patients from a general tertiary public hospital.
METHODS
Retrospective study comparing prescriptions of statins and lipid profile results. The significance level was established in 5%.
RESULTS
In one year, 9,594 individuals received statin prescriptions, of whom 51.5% were females and the mean age was 63.7±12.9 years-old (18 to 100 years-old). Thirty-two medical specialties prescribed statins. Cardiology was responsible for 43% of the total. Nearly 15% of those patients with a prescription did not have a recent total cholesterol result and 1,746 (18%) did not have a recent LDL-cholesterol measurement. The occurrence of the latter between 130 and 190 mg/dL was present in 1,643 (17.1%) individuals, and 228 (2.4%) patients had an LDL-cholesterol ≥190mg/dL among those using statins at distinct doses. Only two statins were used: simvastatin and atorvastatin. The first was prescribed in 77.6% of the prescriptions.
CONCLUSION
In this cross-sectional cohort at a tertiary general hospital, statins have been widely prescribed but with little success in achieving recognized levels of control. There is probably a significant number of FH individuals in this cohort that need to be properly diagnosed in order to receive adequate treatment due to its prognostic implications.
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