Hypercholesterolaemia control in Spain: The same situation with different regional realities

Introduction and objectives

The cardiovascular prevention strategy by autonomous communities can be variable since the competences in health are transferred. The objective of the study was to determine the degree of dyslipidaemia control and the lipid-lowering pharmacological therapy used in patients at high/very high cardiovascular risk (CVR) by autonomous communities.

Methods

Observational, cross-sectional, descriptive study based on a consensus methodology. Information on the clinical practice of 145 health areas belonging to 17 Spanish autonomous communities was collected through face-to-face meetings and questionnaires administered to the 435 participating physicians. Furthermore, aggregate non-identifiable data were compiled from 10 consecutive dyslipidaemic patients that each participant had recently visited.

Results

Of the 4,010 patients collected, 649 (16%) had high and 2,458 (61%) very high CVR. The distribution of the 3,107 high/very high CVR patients was balanced across regions, but there were inter-regional differences (P < 0.0001) in the achievement of target LDL-C<70 and <55 mg/dL, respectively. High-intensity statins in monotherapy or in combination with ezetimibe and/or PCSK9 inhibitors were used in 44, 21 and 4% of high CVR patients, while in those at very high CVR it rose to 38, 45 and 6%, respectively. The use of these lipid-lowering therapies at national level was significantly different between regions (P = 0.0079).

Conclusions

Even though the distribution of patients at high/very high CVR was similar between autonomous communities, inter-territorial differences were identified in the degree of achievement of LDL cholesterol therapeutic goal and use of lipid-lowering therapy.