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Dyslipidemia in primary care patients - Treatment and control (LANTERN study) Algarve

Sara Teixeira1, Adriana Justo Correia2, Manuela Castro1

  • 1USF-Balsa, ULS Algarve, ACES Sotavento, Tavira, Portugal; Faculdade de Medicina e Ciências Biomédicas (FMCB), Universidade do Algarve, Portugal.

Revista Portuguesa De Cardiologia : Orgao Oficial Da Sociedade Portuguesa De Cardiologia = Portuguese Journal of Cardiology : an Official Journal of the Portuguese Society of Cardiology
|August 5, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Most high-risk patients with dyslipidemia in Portugal do not meet LDL-C targets. Underuse of intensive statin therapy indicates a need for improved cardiovascular disease prevention strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Public Health
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death in Portugal.
  • Dyslipidemia, specifically high LDL-C, is a major modifiable risk factor for CVD.
  • Current guidelines set LDL-C targets based on cardiovascular risk, but treatment gaps exist.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess LDL-C control and management in primary care patients with dyslipidemia in the Algarve region.
  • To evaluate adherence to 2019/2021 ESC/EAS guidelines for LDL-C targets.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study utilizing electronic health records from nine Family Health Units.
  • Inclusion of adults aged ≥40 with dyslipidemia (ICPC-2 code T93).
  • Assessment of cardiovascular risk using SCORE2/OP and analysis of LDL-C levels and treatment strategies.

Main Results:

  • 79% of 2,904 patients were high or very high cardiovascular risk.
  • Only 15.7% achieved recommended LDL-C targets; 88% of high/very high-risk patients exceeded thresholds.
  • Underutilization of pharmacological treatment was observed, with 29.9% receiving none and 14.4% on high-intensity statins or combination therapy.

Conclusions:

  • LDL-C target achievement is suboptimal in Portuguese primary care, especially for high-risk individuals.
  • The underuse of intensive treatment strategies presents a significant opportunity for enhancing cardiovascular prevention.
  • Updated risk assessment tools like SCORE2/OP are crucial for improving patient management.
Abstract

Keywords:
Cardiovascular riskColesterol LDLDislipidemiaDyslipidemiaFatores de risco modificáveisLDL-cholesterolModifiable risk factorsRisco cardiovascularTratamento/gestãoTreatment/management

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