The current management of cholesterol was re-examined at the in July 2002. There are 311 patients with ischaemic heart disease (heart attack and angina), 5% of the practice population. Nationally it has been decided to examine the treatment of patients aged 35-74 in order to get comparable figures for practices with populations of different age structure. The practice has also been concentrating on measuring and treating raised cholesterol in those aged under 75 years because treatment takes a number of years to be effective. There were 173 patients with ischaemic heart disease aged 74 or under.
Of these 173, there were cholesterol measurements available for 163 (94%). Of these 163:-
107 (66%) are in the target range of < 5.0 mmol/l.
Discussion
The number of patients having their cholesterol checked and the number whose cholesterol is below the target level continues to increase but there is still some work to be done.