Underidentification and undertreatment of dyslipidemia

Despite increased attention placed on the identification and treatment of dyslipidemia, this condition remains undiagnosed and untreated in a significant number of patients. The recently released National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) set of cholesterol management guidelines increases to more than 65 million the number of Americans eligible for lipid-modifying therapy. Recent data, however, suggest that even with the availability of multiple regimens with proven efficacy, as many as 50% of all patients do not have their cholesterol assessed and less than 45% receive lipid-modifying therapy. In addition, less than 25% of patients are treated to their NCEP target low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level. Persistence with therapy is another challenge, as more than 70% of patients fail to maintain their therapy beyond 12 months. If a realistic attempt is to be made to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) among Americans, diagnosis of dyslipidemia and treatment to therapeutic targets must be improved. This artide discusses the underdiagnosis and undertreatment of lipid disorders and reviews the role of osteopathic physicians in strategies achieving ATP III LDL-C goals.