Extent of undertreatment and overtreatment with cholesterol-lowering therapy according to European guidelines in 92,348 Danes without ischemic cardiovascular disease and diabetes in 2004-2014

Anne Langsted, Jacob J Freiberg, Børge G Nordestgaard

15 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background and aims We estimated the extent of undertreatment and overtreatment with cholesterol-lowering therapy according to European guidelines in individuals in the Danish general population without ischemic cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Methods We examined 92,348 such individuals aged 35–100 years recruited from 2004 through 2014 in the Copenhagen General Population Study. Each individual was assigned their 10-year risk of fatal cardiovascular disease according to the European SCORE chart based on age, sex, smoking, total cholesterol, and systolic blood pressure. European guidelines recommend cholesterol-lowering therapy definitely at ≥10% risk and LDL cholesterol ≥1.8 mmol/L, definitely at 5–9% risk and LDL cholesterol ≥2.5 mmol/L, possibly at 1–4% risk and LDL cholesterol ≥3 mmol/L, but not at <1% risk. Results 3858 individuals had ≥10% risk, 16,255 had 5–9% risk, 49,131 had 1–4% risk, and 23,104 had <1% 10-year risk of fatal cardiovascular disease. In these groups, 81%, 86%, 93%, and 99% did not receive cholesterol-lowering therapy. Definite undertreatment and overtreatment according to guidelines were found in 19% and 0.2% or in 187,660 and 1570 per million 35–100 year olds without ischemic cardiovascular disease and diabetes. If definite and possible undertreatment and overtreatment were combined, the corresponding numbers were 52% and 3% or 519,416 and 29,194 per million. Conclusions In the Danish general population, ∼190,000 per million 35–100 year olds without ischemic cardiovascular disease and diabetes are not treated to LDL cholesterol goals according to European guidelines. Conversely, ∼1600 per million received cholesterol-lowering therapy without endorsement in European guidelines.

Original languageEnglish
JournalAtherosclerosis
Volume257
Pages (from-to)9-15
Number of pages7
ISSN0021-9150
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Feb 2017

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