Trends in Managing Cholesterol Levels in Patients
Author Information
Author(s): Urbonas Gediminas, Šileikienė Lolita, Valius Leonas, Grigalė Evelina, Kaupas Vilius, Juška Tautvydas, Vėbraitė Gabrielė, Grabauskytė Ingrida
Primary Institution: Lithuanian University of Health Sciences
Hypothesis
This study evaluated LDL-C control trends in patients treated at a primary healthcare center in Lithuania.
Conclusion
LDL-C control trends are improving over five years, but many patients still do not meet target levels.
Supporting Evidence
- LDL-C levels decreased significantly in patients with diabetes and CVD compared to the control group.
- The proportion of patients achieving LDL-C < 3 mmol/L increased from 32.0% in 2019 to 41.5% in 2023.
- Patients with diabetes saw a 3.5-fold increase in achieving LDL-C < 1.8 mmol/L over five years.
- Patients with CVD had a 4.7-fold increase in achieving LDL-C < 1.4 mmol/L.
- Positive trends in LDL-C control suggest potential long-term reductions in cardiovascular events.
Takeaway
Doctors are getting better at helping patients lower their bad cholesterol, but many still need help to reach healthy levels.
Methodology
Data on patients aged 40 years or older diagnosed with dyslipidemia were extracted from a real-world data platform over five years.
Potential Biases
Potential misclassification of patients in the control group could affect results.
Limitations
The study was conducted at a single center, limiting generalizability, and the control group may include some high-risk patients.
Participant Demographics
The study included 58.2% women, with a mean age of 58.1 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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