The frequency of lipid-lowering therapy (74.8%) in patients with CHD in this outpatient setting was relatively high but not as high as the frequency of patients on aspirin or antiplatelet therapy (88.4%). More than one-quarter of the patients in this cohort were not on any lipid-lowering therapy. In addition, only 55 patients (45.8%) were at [...]

Continue reading " Missed Opportunity in the Treatment of Hyperlipidemia in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease: The Primary Care Setting. DISCUSSION "

Demographics One-hundred-forty-seven patients were identified as having CHD. The mean age of the patients was 66 ± 11 years, and 54.4% of the patients were women. The majority (91.8%) of the patients were African-American. Most patients were indigent and few had private insurance. The comorbidities of the patients are displayed in Table 1. In general, there [...]

Continue reading " Missed Opportunity in the Treatment of Hyperlipidemia in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease: The Primary Care Setting. RESULTS "

METHODS Over a one-month period, every other patient who attended the general medicine clinics at Grady Memorial Hospital was screened for the presence of CHD. The clinic was staffed by 140 interns and residents from the Emory University Internal Medicine Residency Program under the supervision of 40 general medicine Emory University attendings. Clinics were held [...]

Continue reading " Missed Opportunity in the Treatment of Hyperlipidemia in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease: The Primary Care Setting. METHODS & Statistical Analysis "

BACKGROUND Coronary heart disease (CHD) affects approximately 13.5 million people in the United States. This accounts for significant morbidity and mortality, including approximately 900,000 myocardial infarctions and 250,000 deaths each year. A major goal for physicians caring for patients with CHD focuses on the management of risk factors known to be associated with recurrent cardiovascular [...]

Continue reading " Missed Opportunity in the Treatment of Hyperlipidemia in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease: The Primary Care Setting "