OBJECTIVETo estimate the current prevalence, awareness and treatment status of hypercholesterolemia among inpatients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in China.

METHODSSixty-four hospitals across China, including 32 secondary hospitals and 32 tertiary hospitals were selected for baseline survey. Fifty inpatients diagnosed with ACS were recruited consecutively in each participated hospitals. Retrospective information for 2751 patients were collected, and the prevalence, awareness, and treatment status of hypercholesterolemia among the patients were analyzed.

RESULTS(1) Mean age of the patients was 65 +/- 11. Sixty-nine percent of the patients were males and 31.2% were females. Among them, 39.4% were diagnosed as ST-segment elevation MI, 8.8% as non-ST-segment elevation MI and 51.8% as unstable angina. Twenty-seven percent of them had previous ACS history. (2) Hypercholesterolemia was found in 19.6% ACS patients. Among 7 geographic districts (north China, east China, south China, middle China, northeast, northwest and southwest), the prevalence rate of hypercholesterolemia was highest (24.7%) in east China and lowest (10.0%) in middle China. Significant difference was observed among these areas. (3) Awareness rate of hypercholesterolemia was 12.2% among patients with hypercholesterolemia, with significant difference among various areas. Treatment rate was 66.7% among patients with known hypercholesterolemia, with the highest (83.3%) seen in south China and lowest (0%) in southwest area. (4) The prevalence, awareness rate and treatment rate of hypercholesterolemia were higher in recurrent ACS patients than in those without ACS history.

CONCLUSIONSNearly 20% ACS inpatients have hypercholesterolemia.It is essential to pay more attention on the treatment of hypercholesterolemia for the purpose of secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease.