Observational study of patients from a Lipid Unit on lipid-modifying therapy for primary and secondary prevention: ULFI Study

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the achievement of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) goals established by the 2019 European Guidelines for the Management of Dyslipidemias and 2021 Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Guidelines, describe the lipid-lowering treatment received, analyze the achievement of goals according to the lipid-lowering treatment received and study the factors associated with therapeutic success.

Design: Observational study that included 185 patients of both sexes aged 18 or over undergoing lipid-lowering treatment for primary or secondary prevention, attended at the Lipid Unit.

Results: 62.1% of the patients had a very high cardiovascular risk (CVR) according to the 2019 guidelines, and 60.5% according to the 2021 guidelines. Of the total cases, 22.7% achieved adequate control of LDLc according to the 2019 guidelines and 20% according to the 2021 guidelines. 47.6% of the patients received very high intensity lipid-lowering treatment, and 14.1% received extremely high intensity lipid-lowering treatment. 76% of subjects with very high CVR on extremely high intensity lipid-lowering treatment achieved the therapeutic objectives of both guides. In the multivariate analysis, factors associated with therapeutic success were the presence of arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, the intensity of lipid-lowering treatment, diabetes mellitus, and low to moderate alcohol consumption.

Conclusions: Dyslipidemia control is improvable. High or extremely high intensity lipid-lowering treatments can contribute to optimizing control of patients with higher CVR.

Keywords: Cardiovascular prevention; Cardiovascular risk; Hipercolesterolemia; Hypercholesterolemia; Lipid unit; Lipid-lowering therapy; Objetivo terapéutico; Prevención cardiovascular; Riesgo cardiovascular; Therapeutic target; Tratamiento hipolipemiante; Unidad de lípidos.