Background:
Obtaining adequate lipid control (LDL-Cholesterol [LDL] <100 mg/dL) in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a critical, guideline-directed secondary prevention target. Current compliance with this recommendation is unknown.
Methods:
A total of 616 patients had their LDL levels measured at 2 vascular specialty clinics in the Netherlands (March 2006-November 2011) during the evaluation of new PAD symptoms. A year following this evaluation, 417 (68%) patients had their LDL levels re-assessed. Information about patients’ demographic and clinical factors was systematically abstracted from medical records. Categories of patients were created based on the attainment of the recommended LDL target (<100 mg/dL [on target] vs. ≥100 mg/dL [off target]). Predictors of being off target at initial evaluation and at 1-year follow-up were identified through multivariable logistic regression analyses.
Results:
Of the total group, 57% (351/616) were off target at initial evaluation and 81% (496/616) were on lipid-lowering drugs after the initial evaluation at the PAD specialty clinic. One year later, only 25% (103/417) got on target, while 35% (147/417) patients remained off target, and an additional 10% (43/417) saw an increase in LDL to become off target. A total of 30% (124/417) remained on target. Patients with hypertension, diabetes, a history of myocardial infarction, and a lower ankle-brachial index were less likely to be off target at initial evaluation. Predictors of being off target at 1-year follow-up were male sex, and having a higher ankle-brachial index (
Table
).
Conclusion:
About half of patients with PAD seen at vascular specialty clinics had above-target LDL levels both upon entry and 1 year later. Patients with existing cardiovascular risk factors were much better controlled, as compared with patients without such risk factors. Males and those with higher ankle-brachial indices were less likely to be on target 1 year following management at the specialty clinic. Reasons for poorly regulated lipids need to be further explored, and appropriate quality-of-care improvement strategies will likely be needed to optimize secondary prevention.
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