Lipid control and associated risk factors, before suffering from the first cardiovascular event

Pilar Ángeles Oriol Torón1, Teresa Badía Farré1, Amparo Romaguera Lliso2

  • 1Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria, ABS Martorell, SAP Alt Penedès-Garraf-Baix Llobregat Nord, DAP Costa de Ponent, Institut Català de la Salut, Barcelona, España.

Insights

Lipid control before first cardiovascular events was assessed in primary care. While many patients had suboptimal levels, most fell within specific LDL, HDL, and triglyceride ranges, indicating room for improved prevention strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Primary Care Medicine
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Cardiovascular diseases remain a leading cause of morbidity and mortality.
  • Effective lipid management in primary care is crucial for preventing first-time cardiovascular events.
  • Understanding lipid profiles prior to ischemic events informs preventative strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the degree of lipid control in patients before their first cardiovascular accident.
  • To analyze the distribution of cardiovascular events based on lipid control intervals (LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides).

Main Methods:

  • A multicentric, cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted.
  • Data from 379 adult patients experiencing their first cardiac or cerebral ischemic attack in 2013 were analyzed.
  • Variables included demographics, cardiovascular risk factors, and lipid profiles (total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides).

Main Results:

  • The study included 379 patients (54.4% male), with similar rates of heart attack (52%) and stroke (48%).
  • Prevalent risk factors included hypertension (56.5%), dyslipidemia (50.9%), and diabetes (29.8%).
  • Most cases fell within LDL-cholesterol <100-159 mg/dL (88%), HDL-cholesterol ≥40/50 mg/dL (72.8%), and triglycerides <150 mg/dL (71.3%).

Conclusions:

  • Cardiovascular and cerebral events occurred with similar frequency, with a slightly higher median age at diagnosis for stroke.
  • Hypertension, dyslipidemia, and obesity are prevalent risk factors, highlighting the need for improved primary prevention.
  • The majority of patients presented with lipid levels within defined ranges, suggesting potential for optimizing management strategies.
Abstract

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