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Lipid-lowering therapy and cholesterol levels following acute myocardial infarction: a German study of 5361 patients.
- Source :
-
European journal of epidemiology [Eur J Epidemiol] 2003; Vol. 18 (5), pp. 407-11. - Publication Year :
- 2003
-
Abstract
- Background: Current studies on secondary prevention of cardiovascular events (CARE, LIPID, 4S) illustrate the necessity of an effective lipid-lowering therapy. An important part of secondary prevention is the prompt measurement of lipids following an infarct, to be able to start therapy as quickly as possible.<br />Aims: This study should show the general situation in the prescription of lipid-lowering drugs in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) and if there are gender differences in therapy and in the lipid parameters. The second aim was to determine the therapeutical conclusions for secondary prevention made in-hospital in patients with heart attacks.<br />Methods: Post-infarct lipid parameters (total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TG) were examined in 5361 patients within 24 hours following an acute MI. Lipid parameters from 576 patients were measured again after 1 week.<br />Results: 80.1% of men under examination and 81.9% of the women had suffered from their first MI. Only 9% of all patients were already under lipid-lowering therapy before the MI. After the MI TC and LDL-C levels decreased significantly in a time-dependent manner. Around 50% of patients received lipid-lowering drug, or the recommendation of one, during their hospital stay.<br />Conclusion: The range of TC values of the patients examined was comparable to those in the CARE and the 4S secondary prevention studies. It can therefore be assumed that the results of these studies are also applicable to Germany. Nevertheless, according to existing data, therapy with lipid-lowering drugs is currently unsatisfactory, even in secondary prevention.
- Subjects :
- Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Cholesterol, HDL blood
Cholesterol, HDL drug effects
Cholesterol, LDL blood
Cholesterol, LDL drug effects
Female
Germany
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Random Allocation
Sex Factors
Time Factors
Treatment Outcome
Cholesterol blood
Hypolipidemic Agents therapeutic use
Myocardial Infarction drug therapy
Myocardial Infarction prevention & control
Triglycerides blood
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0393-2990
- Volume :
- 18
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- European journal of epidemiology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 12889686
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1024232304665