Whom are we treating with lipid-lowering drugs? Are we following the guidelines? Evidence from a population-based study: the Tromsø study 2001
Original version
Hartz I, Eggen AE, Grimsgaard S, Skjold F, Njølstad I. (2004)Whom are we treating with lipid-lowering drugs? Are we following the guidelines? Evidence from a population-based study - the Tromsø Study 2001. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 60(9), 643-9 http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00228-004-0827-zAbstract
Abstract Objective: The beneficial effect of lipid-lowering
drugs (LLDs) is well documented. Despite increasing
sales of LLDs, little is known about what characterizes
LLD users. Our objective was to describe LLD users in a
general population according to socio-demographic
factors, cardiovascular risk factors and coronary heart
disease (CHD), and to study the achievement of cholesterol
treatment goals according to national guidelines.
Methods: The Tromsø study is a population-based study
of chronic diseases, risk factors and drug use in the
municipality Tromsø, in north Norway. The fifth survey
was conducted in 2001 and included 7,973 men and
women (attendance rate 78.1%). Self-reported use of
LLDs and/or proprietary LLDs was included as LLD
use in the analysis.
Results: LLD use was reported in 9.6% of all women
and 14.0% of all men, of whom 36.5% achieved the
nationally recommended lipid goal. Among individuals
with CHD, 49.9% of all women and 55.4% of all men
were LLD users. The individuals with a risk condition
(hypertension and/or diabetes) and total cholesterol level
above the target of 5.0 mmol/l and the healthy
individuals with total cholesterol level ‡8.0 mmol/l
constituted 47.2% of the study population without
CHD. In this group, which was eligible for primary
prevention, 8.0% of the women and 7.4% of the men
reported LLD use.
Conclusions: Only half of all subjects with CHD were
taking a LLD. The large discrepancy between national
recommendations and actual LLD use in primary prevention
should be addressed in future revisions of the
guidelines.
Description
The original publication is available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00228-004-0827-z