IS THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL HEART FOUNDATION PROGRAM EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING CHOLESTEROL LEVELS AMONG GENERAL-PRACTICE PATIENTS

Despite the contribution of elevated cholesterol to the development of cardiovascular disease, many individuals continue to have cholesterol levels greater than the 5.5 mmol/l recommended by the Australian Nati onal Heart foundation (NHF). Although general practitioners appear to be well placed to offer dietary advice to help patients to reduce thei r cholesterol levels, there have been few if any randomised trials eva luating the effectiveness of general practitioners in this area. A ran domised trial of the relative effectiveness of two general practitione r programmes in reducing cholesterol levels among patients with choles terol levels between 5.5 and 7.9 mmol/l was undertaken. The dietary ad vice programme developed by the NHF for use by general practitioners w as compared with minimal advice (feedback on cholesterol level, pamphl et and warning of follow-up). Serum cholesterol was measured using a p ortable Reflotron. At 4-month follow-up, the patients in the NHF group (n = 76) had significantly greater reductions in cholesterol levels t han those in the minimal group (n = 70), and a greater proportion of N HF patients had reduced their cholesterol below risk levels. On averag e, the patients in the NHF group reduced their cholesterol by 0.84 mmo l/l or 13.5% of baseline levels. There were no differences between the NHF and minimal group on changes in pre- to post-test body mass index , attitudes or self-reported dietary change and only minimal differenc es in satisfaction with advice received.