Awareness, dyslipidemia and features of statin therapy in patients with acute coronary syndrome

Abstract

Introduction. Patients' awareness of dyslipidemia levels and adherence to statin therapy are important for the primary and secondary prevention of acute coronary syndrome.Aim. To study the awareness of patients with acute coronary syndrome about their total cholesterol blood levels, severity of dyslipidemia, and features of statin therapy.Materials and methods. The study included 304 patients with acute coronary syndrome. Clinical and demographic data, patients' awareness of total cholesterol blood levels, frequency of statin intake, adherence to therapy, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol blood levels were evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed in IBM SPSS Statistica 23.0.Results. Total cholesterol blood levels were known to 128 patients with acute coronary syndrome out of 304 (42%); awareness was higher among patients with a history of myocardial infarction (68%) compared to those hospitalized for acute coronary syndrome for the first time (31%) (p < 0.05). Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels £ 1.4 mmol/L were present in 286 (94%) patients. Statins were taken by 96 (32%) patients; 20% of patient hospitalized for the first time for acute coronary syndrome were taking statins, compared to 59% with a recurrent event (p < 0.05). Patients aged 75 years and older were taking statins in 56% of cases, patients younger than 75 years - in 24.4% (p < 0.05). 68% of patients previously taking statins were adherent to therapy, but 92% of them did not achieve the target low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.Conclusion. Awareness of total cholesterol blood levels was 42% among patients with acute coronary syndrome, with higher awareness among patients with a recurrent event compared to those hospitalized for the first time. Statins were taken by one-third of patients with acute coronary syndrome, more often in patients with a recurrent event compared to those hospitalized for the first time; adherence to therapy was 68% among patients taking statins. Even in statin-adherent patients with acute coronary syndrome, there was insufficient low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels reduction according to current guidelines. The results confirm the need for further development and implementation of educational programs for patients at all stages of medical care.