Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 23, 2026

Differential Effects of Lipid-lowering Drugs in Modulating Morphology of Cholesterol Particles
Published on: November 10, 2017
Statins are less effective in common daily practice among patients with hypercholesterolemia: the REALITY-PHARMO
Wim G Goettsch1, Donald D Yin, Evo Alemao
1PHARMO Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands. wim.goettsch@pharmo.nl
Background:
To study the use and effectiveness of lipid-lowering drugs with respect to lowering of cholesterol levels in routine daily practice.
Methods:
20 392 patients for whom lipid levels records were available between January 1991 and December 2001 were included in this retrospective population based cohort study. From this group of patients 1899 patients started treatment during the study period and had at least one baseline cholesterol measurement during the six months prior to the initiation of lipid lowering drugs and at least one cholesterol measurement after initiation. A patient was defined to be 'at goal' if the patient had a total cholesterol less than 5.0 mmol/L.
Results:
Our results indicate that only 30.2% of all treated patients achieved goal in the first year of treatment. After the introduction of new guidelines in 1998, recommending more aggressive treatment, the goal attainment percentage rose from 22.4% of those patients treated before 1998 to 42.3% for those in whom treatment was initiated after 1998.
Conclusion:
The percentage of patients achieving guideline recommended goal is low in real-life even in patients treated with high dose statins.
Related Concept Videos
Lipid-Lowering Drugs: Statins and Miscellaneous Agents
Atherosclerosis III: Management
Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Metabolism
Cholesterol: Significance and Regulation
Considering cholesterol and...
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Drug Dosing and Hepatic Blood Flow
Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System III: Serum Lipid Profile
Serum lipids are fats and fatty substances in the blood and are crucial for various bodily functions, including energy storage, cellular structure, and hormone production. Serum lipids consist of cholesterol, triglycerides, and phospholipids.
Cholesterol is a soft, fat-like substance found in all body cells. It is crucial for producing hormones, vitamin D, and substances that aid...