Prevalence of dyslipidemia and goal attainment after initiating lipid-modifying therapy: a Thai multicenter study

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Metabolic Disorders
• Pharmacotherapy

Background:

• Previous research emphasized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goals post-lipid-modifying therapy (LMT).
• Limited data exist on achieving normal triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels with LMT.
• Lipid abnormalities are significant risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the achievement of normal triglyceride and HDL-C levels in patients undergoing LMT.
• To assess the persistence of lipid abnormalities, including elevated LDL-C, triglyceride, and low HDL-C, after 12 months of LMT.
• To identify the proportion of patients, particularly those at high cardiovascular risk, with residual dyslipidemia.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of medical records for patients initiated on LMT.
• Categorization of patients into high-risk (coronary heart disease, diabetes, or 10-year Framingham risk >20%) and general groups.
• Analysis of lipid profiles (LDL-C, triglyceride, HDL-C) before and after 12 months of LMT.

Main Results:

• Before LMT, high proportions of patients had elevated LDL-C (66%), triglyceride (35%), and low HDL-C (44%).
• After 12 months of LMT, significant percentages still exhibited lipid abnormalities: elevated LDL-C (21%), triglyceride (32%), and low HDL-C (39%).
• In the high-risk subgroup, 26% had elevated LDL-C, 25% had elevated triglyceride, and 43% had low HDL-C after 12 months.

Conclusions:

• A substantial proportion of patients on LMT continue to have dyslipidemia, including elevated LDL-C, triglyceride, and/or low HDL-C.
• Approximately 1 in 5 patients experience persistent lipid abnormalities, indicating a need for optimized therapeutic strategies.
• Current LMT protocols may not be sufficient for achieving comprehensive lipid goals in a significant patient cohort.