Hypercholesterolemia during hospitalization. The case for closer surveillance

The medical records of patients hospitalized in a teaching hospital between August 1981 and January 1983 were examined retrospectively, and 38 patients with elevated (greater than 350 mg/dl) serum cholesterol levels were identified. Follow-up information was obtained from the office records of attending physicians. Hyperlipidemia had been diagnosed during hospitalization in only 13 patients, and lipid levels had been determined during follow-up in only eight patients. Elevated serum cholesterol has been identified as a major risk factor in the development of coronary artery atherosclerosis. However, results of this study indicate that significant hyperlipidemia discovered during hospitalization is infrequently treated and seldom monitored during follow-up. Practicing physicians can readily improve this situation by closer surveillance of patients with elevated cholesterol levels.