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Atherogenic dyslipidemia: prevalence and management in lipid clinics
J Pedro-Botet1, J A Flores-Le Roux1, J M Mostaza2
1Unidad de Lípidos y Riesgo Vascular, Servicio de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Hospital del Mar, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.
Insights
Atherogenic dyslipidemia affects one in six patients in Spanish lipid clinics. Therapeutic goals for HDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels were rarely achieved in these high-risk individuals.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Endocrinology
- Public Health
Background:
- Atherogenic dyslipidemia, marked by high triglycerides and low HDL cholesterol, is often overlooked and undertreated.
- This condition poses a significant cardiovascular risk and requires effective management strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of atherogenic dyslipidemia in Spanish lipid and vascular risk units.
- To assess the achievement of therapeutic targets for HDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels in affected patients.
Main Methods:
- An observational, longitudinal, retrospective, multicenter study involving 1828 patients from 43 Spanish lipid clinics.
- Data were collected from medical records for two visits between 2010 and 2012.
Main Results:
- 17.9% of patients exhibited atherogenic dyslipidemia, associated with obesity, diabetes, and prior cardiovascular events.
- Only 16.1% of patients with atherogenic dyslipidemia achieved their therapeutic goals for HDL cholesterol and triglycerides.
- Normal weight and normoglycemia predicted therapeutic success.
Conclusions:
- Atherogenic dyslipidemia is prevalent in one out of every six patients attending specialized lipid clinics.
- Current treatment strategies are insufficient, with very low achievement rates for HDL cholesterol and triglyceride targets.
Background And Objective:
Atherogenic dyslipidemia, which is characterized by increased triglyceride levels and reduced HDL cholesterol levels, is underestimated and undertreated in clinical practice. We assessed its prevalence and the achievement of therapeutic objectives for HDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels in patients treated at lipid and vascular risk units in Spain.
Patients And Method:
This was an observational, longitudinal, retrospective, multicenter study performed in 14 autonomous Spanish communities that consecutively included 1828 patients aged ≥18 years who were referred for dyslipidemia and vascular risk to 43 lipid clinics accredited by the Spanish Society of Arteriosclerosis. We collected information from the medical records corresponding to 2 visits conducted during 2010 and 2011-12, respectively.
Results:
Of the 1649 patients who had a lipid profile in the first visit (90.2%), 295 (17.9%) had atherogenic dyslipidemia. The factors associated with atherogenic dyslipidemia were excess weight/obesity, not taking hypolipidemic drugs (statins and/or fibrates), diabetes, myocardial infarction and previous heart failure. Of the 273 (92.5%) patients with atherogenic dyslipidemia that had a lipid profile in the last visit, 44 (16.1%) achieved the therapeutic objectives for HDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels. The predictors of therapeutic success were normal weight and normoglycemia.
Conclusion:
One of every 6 patients treated in lipid and vascular risk units had atherogenic dyslipidemia. The degree to which the therapeutic goals for HDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels were achieved in these patients was very low.
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