OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical management of hyperlipidemia and goal attainment rate in year 2000 to year 2004 - 2006 in China.

METHODData from 2 retrospective surveys (2000 and 2004 - 2006) on clinical management of hyperlipidemia and goal attainment rate were analyzed. A total of 2136 patients were recruited in the 1st survey in year 2000 and 539 patients in the 2nd survey in year 2004 - 2006 from 25 and 21 tertiary hospitals of 12 metropolitan cities. Eligible patients had hyperlipidemia and received lipid-lowering therapy for more than 2 months at the time of survey. Serum lipid levels before and after treatment were analyzed and the goal attainment rate post therapy, defined according to the Chinese National Recommendations for Prevention and Treatment of Dyslipidaemia published in 1997, was calculated.

RESULTSClinical characteristics were comparable in patients from the 1st and 2nd survey: age (60.9 and 60.0 years), males (47.2% and 49.3%), type of lipid disorder (mixed hyperlipidemia 62.5% and 66.8%), and patients without coronary artery disease (CAD 61.2% and 68.6%). The percent of statins use was significantly higher in the 2nd survey than in the 1st survey (79.2% vs. 70.3%, P < 0.01). The goal attainment rate was significantly higher in the 2nd survey than in the 1st survey (39.9% vs. 26.6% for all patients, 40.2% vs. 28.8% for hypercholesterolaemia, 39.7% vs. 25.0% for mixed hyperlipidemia, 45.9% vs. 31.7 for patients without CAD, 26.7% vs. 16.6% for patients with CAD, 42.2% vs. 30.1% for patients using statins, and 38.5% vs. 28.3% for patients with diet control, all P value < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSAlthough the goal attainment rate has been significantly increased in treated hyperlipidemia patients over recent 5 years in China, it is still far from optimal as suggested by the recommendations. Further efforts should be made to increase the goal attainment rate in patients receiving lipid-lowering therapy.