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Utilization of Lipid-Lowering Drugs in Elderly Persons With Increased Serum Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Associated With Coronary Artery Disease, Symptomatic Peripheral Arterial Disease, Prior Stroke, or Diabetes Mellitus Before and After an Educational Program on Dyslipidemia Treatment

Department of Medicine, Divisions of ¹ Geriatrics
² Cardiology, Westchester Medical Center/New York Medical College, Valhalla.

Background. We report the prevalence of use of lipid-lowering drugs in elderly persons with increased serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol associated with coronary artery disease (CAD), symptomatic peripheral arterial disease (PAD), prior stroke, and diabetes mellitus before and after an educational program on the treatment of dyslipidemia.

Methods. In an academic nursing home, we investigated the prevalence of use of lipid-lowering drugs in persons, mean age 77 ± 9 years (40% men and 60% women), with a serum LDL cholesterol 100 mg/dl associated with the aforementioned ailments before and after a 5-month educational program on the treatment of dyslipidemia was given to physicians and nurse practitioners.

Results. After the educational program, the prevalence of use of lipid-lowering drugs to treat the targeted elderly population increased (p <.001) in persons with CAD from 29% (18 of 63 persons) to 70% (44 of 63 persons), in persons with symptomatic PAD from 28% (5 of 18 persons) to 79% (15 of 19 persons), in persons with prior stroke from 24% (11 of 45 persons) to 64% (28 of 44 persons), and in diabetics from 26% (14 of 53 persons) to 67% (35 of 52 persons).

Conclusion. A 5-month educational program on dyslipidemia treatment given to physicians and nurse practitioners in an academic nursing home improved the prevalence of use of lipid-lowering drugs in persons with increased serum LDL cholesterol associated with CAD, symptomatic PAD, prior stroke, and diabetes mellitus.

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