Quality of secondary cardiovascular prevention in specialised care in the Netherlands: the SOLID study

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Public Health
• Pharmacotherapy

Background:

• Secondary cardiovascular prevention is crucial for patients with existing cardiovascular disease (CVD).
• National guidelines recommend strict cholesterol targets for high-risk patients.
• Lipid-lowering therapy is a cornerstone of CVD management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the achievement of national cholesterol targets in Dutch patients with CVD under specialized care.
• To evaluate the current lipid-lowering treatment patterns in this patient population.

Main Methods:

• A hospital-based cohort study was conducted.
• Data were collected from 7377 patients treated by 41 cardiologists and internists in the Netherlands.
• The study analyzed medication use and lipid levels against national guidelines.

Main Results:

• 41% of patients indicated for lipid-lowering therapy achieved target cholesterol levels.
• 42% received medication but remained above target cholesterol levels.
• 11% were untreated, and 5% lacked recent lipid measurements.

Conclusions:

• While treatment rates have improved compared to previous studies, optimal cholesterol management remains a challenge.
• A substantial proportion of Dutch CVD patients in specialized care are not achieving recommended cholesterol targets.
• Further optimization of lipid-lowering therapy is necessary to improve secondary cardiovascular prevention outcomes.