Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
 |
Checking for direct PDF access through Ovid | |
Excerpt
Background. To determine the proportion of volunteer women with established heart disease who have low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels at or below the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel Goals and to determine what factors are associated with levels above goal or not receiving lipid-lowering medication when indicated.
Methods. Cross-sectional measurement of lipids and lipoproteins, blood pressure, height, weight, and other demographic and cardiovascular risk factors in 2,763 postmenopausal women with heart disease were assessed at 18 centers throughout the United States. The frequency of achieving 1988 and 1993 Adult Treatment Panel Goals, and of being on a regimen of lipid-lowering medication were measured.
Results. Although 47% of participants were taking a lipid-lowering medication, 63% did not meet the 1988 treatment goal of LDL-C level less than 3.4 mmol/L(130 mg/dL) and 91% did not meet the 1993 goal of LDL-C level less than 2.6 mmol/L (100 mg/dL). Factors independently associated with achieving the earlier goal were use of lipid-lowering medication, marital status, education, body mass index, exercise, hypertension, diabetes, gallbladder disease, and first diagnosis of coronary heart disease after 1990. Failure to use lipid-lowering medication was associated with age, being African American, marital status, lack of exercise, alcohol consumption, current smoking, and first diagnosis of coronary heart disease before 1985.
Conclusion. The majority of women enrolled in the trial had LDL-C levels that significantly exceeded the treatment goals set by the 1988 and 1993 Adult Treatment Panel Guidelines. Better implementation of these guidelines among women with coronary disease would be highly desirable.
