Aims: To determine: (1) achievement of cholesterol therapy goals in patients receiving lipid-lowering drugs in Polish primary care between the years 2004 and 2006; (2) the characteristics of patients that are associated with attainment of these goals.
Design: Cross-sectional study in randomly selected Polish primary care practices.
Method: 5248 patients aged over 30 years in 2004 and 5386 patients in 2006, who were taking cholesterol-lowering treatment took part in the study. Physicians recorded demographic and medical history data using a standardized questionnaire, including weight and height, and collected blood samples of patients to determine their cholesterol level.
Results: 18.5% of patients attained their optimal goals of therapy (total cholesterol, TC; low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, LDL-C) in 2004 compared to 25.2% in 2006 (p < 0.001). In both 2004 and 2006, more patients achieved their target levels for LDL-C than for TC and statins were the most commonly used medication (85% and 91%, respectively). Male sex, smoking, and higher education were the strongest correlates of the therapeutic outcome. The odds ratio of achieving cholesterol therapy goals in men, non-smokers, and university graduates was estimated at 1.51, 0.70, 1.38 in 2004 and 1.50, 0.73, 1.34 in 2006, respectively.
Conclusion: There was a measurable improvement in the effectiveness of hypercholesterolaemia treatment between 2004 and 2006 but the majority of patients remain inadequately treated, with goals not being achieved. There is a need to raise the standard of lipid-lowering management in Poland.