Cholesterol risk management: A systematic examination of the gap from evidence to practice

Hypercholesterolemia is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease, and data indicate that aggressive cholesterol reduction decreases mortality an d morbidity associated with this disease. Many patients with hypercholester olemia, however, are not screened, prescribed appropriate lipid-lowering th erapy, or treated to target cholesterol levels. Practice patterns are parti cularly inadequate for those patients at highest risk, for having a cardiac event. We performed a literature search to identify studies of practice pa tterns in the management of patients with hypercholesterolemia with regard to screening, implementing lipid-lowering therapy, and treating to lipid go als. The findings highlight the potential for substantial opportunities to improve patient outcomes. Future studies should evaluate reasons for subopt imal cholesterol management as well as provide steps to improve management.