The management of hypercholesterolaemia in patients with coronary artery disease referred for coronary angiography

There are clear benefits in treating hypercholesterolaemia in patients with ischaemic heart disease, especially those with previous myocardial infarct ion. Following publication of trial evidence and treatment guidelines for h ypercholesterolaemia, we investigated the current practice of the managemen t of hypercholesterolaemia in patients with coronary artery disease referre d for coronary angiography by general physicians. We prospectively reviewed 156 consecutive patients (117 men; mean age 61.5 +/- 9.6 [S.D.] years) wit h a history of angina pectoris who attended the day case unit for coronary angiography in a 10 week period. Nearly a tenth of these patients had not b een screened for hypercholesterolaemia in this study. Of those patients wit h a cholesterol level greater than or equal to 5.5 mmol/l, almost a quarter were not on a statin or any other cholesterol-lowering therapy. Continued effort should be given to the screening and effective management of hyperch olesterolaemia in patients with coronary artery disease. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.