The management of hypercholesterolaemia in patients with coronary artery disease referred for coronary angiography

There are clear benefits in treating hypercholesterolaemia in patients with ischaemic heart disease, especially those with previous myocardial infarction. Following publication of trial evidence and treatment guidelines for hypercholesterolaemia, we investigated the current practice of the management of hypercholesterolaemia in patients with coronary artery disease referred for coronary angiography by general physicians. We prospectively reviewed 156 consecutive patients (117 men; mean age 61.5±9.6 [S.D.] years) with a history of angina pectoris who attended the day case unit for coronary angiography in a 10 week period. Nearly a tenth of these patients had not been screened for hypercholesterolaemia in this study. Of those patients with a cholesterol level ≥5.5 mmol/l, almost a quarter were not on a statin or any other cholesterol-lowering therapy. Continued effort should be given to the screening and effective management of hypercholesterolaemia in patients with coronary artery disease.