Nonoptimal high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels are highly prevalent in patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes and well-controlled low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels

Felix-Getzik, Erika M.; Kuvin, Jeffrey T.; Karas, Richard H.

doi:10.1016/j.jacl.2010.04.001

« Previous Next »Journal of Clinical Lipidology
Volume 4, Issue 4 , Pages 265-271, July 2010

Nonoptimal high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels are highly prevalent in patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes and well-controlled low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels

Erika M. Felix-Getzik, PharmD
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Preventive Cardiology Center, Vascular Function Study Group, Tufts Medical Center, 800 Washington Street, Box 80, Boston, MA 02111, USA
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Boston, MA 02115, USA
Jeffrey T. Kuvin, MD, FACC
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Preventive Cardiology Center, Vascular Function Study Group, Tufts Medical Center, 800 Washington Street, Box 80, Boston, MA 02111, USA
Richard H. Karas, MD, PhD
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Preventive Cardiology Center, Vascular Function Study Group, Tufts Medical Center, 800 Washington Street, Box 80, Boston, MA 02111, USA
- Corresponding Author.

Received 8 December 2009; accepted 9 April 2010. published online 20 April 2010.

Background

Low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) are an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease. For this study, nonoptimal HDL-C is defined as less than 40 mg/dL for male patients and less than 50 mg/dL for female patients. Even when low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and non-HDL-C goals are met, significant risk for subsequent cardiovascular events remains in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Objective

This study is a prospective, observational study to determine the prevalence of low HDL-C levels in 250 consecutive patients presenting with ACS who have well-controlled LDL-C levels.

Methods

This was an institutional review board-approved, prospective, observational study in which we evaluated consecutive patients admitted to the adult general cardiology service with a diagnosis of ACS.

Results

One hundred nine (44%) patients had LDL-C levels less than 100 mg/dL on admission. Of those patients, 90 (83%) had a nonoptimal HDL-C. Interestingly, a majority of patients, 94 (86%), had non-HDL-C levels at target. At discharge, approximately one half of eligible patients were started on therapy to increase their HDL-C levels.