Lipid Treatment Assessment Project (L-TAP) Study : a survey in 13 cities in Indonesia to evaluate the percentages of dyslipidemic patients achieving NCEP LDL-C target goals after treatment.

Clinical trials have demonstrated significant benefit from low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) lowering for primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. In the US, it is well recognized that a substantial number of hypercholesterolemic patients were not treated to the LDL-C goals recommended by the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) guidelines. In 1996, the Indonesian Heart Association (PERKI) has issued guidelines recommending goals for screening and lipid treatment in Indonesia adopted from NCEP guidelines; however, the frequency of undertreatment in Indonesia is not known. The objective of this study was to determine the percentage of patients treated with lipid-lowering therapy who reached LDL-C goals as defined by NCEP guidelines in routine clinical practice. This was a cross-sectional survey targeted physicians who regularly treated dyslipidemic patients in 13 cities in Indonesia. Participating doctors were asked on their awareness of NCEP guidelines and to complete the case record form (CRF) of the enrolled patients. One-hundred and eighty-eight (188) out of four hundreds (400) physicians who were invited, have participated in this study. Among the evaluable 1420 CRF, 1082 patients received statins, 301 used fibrates, 14 patients used combination drugs, and 23 others received non-drug treatments only. Success rates on achieving target LDL-C in low-risk, high-risk, and CHD groups were 73.0 %, 43.6 %, and 14.8 %, respectively. Overall success rate in patients using statins was 55.1 %, while in low-risk group, high-risk group, and CHD patients, the success rates with statin were 77.8%, 50.1%, and 18.6 %, respectively. Atorvastatin showed the highest success rate (77.4 %) if compared to other statins. Only 14 % of physicians were knowledgeable about the NCEP goals. Conclusion : A large number of dyslipidemic patients who were on lipid-lowering therapy were not achieving the recommended LDL-C target levels. Success rates were lower in CHD patients and high risk group. Atorvastatin seemed more effective in lowering the LDL-C to target levels. There are still many physicians in Indonesia who do not aware about the NCEP guidelines and LDL-C treatment goals.

Hypoatphalipoproteinemia: Prevalence and the impact of treatment on reaching HDL cholesterol target level in patients with dyslipidemia.

A low serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level is a potent predictor of coronary heart disease (CHD). It has been estimated that 11% of the Framingham men have isolated low HDL-C levels and about 30% of dyslipidemia patients have HDL-C level of less than 35 mg/dl (hypoalphalipoproteinemia). In addition, there is uncertainty regarding the management of these patients. There is no epidemiological data on the prevalence low HDL-C level in dyslipidemia patients and the results of treatment on HDL-C on a large number of patients in Indonesia. We conducted a survey in 13 cities in Indonesia to evaluate the prevalence of hypoalphalipoproteinemia among dyslipidemic patients and the impact of treatment with lipid modification drugs on achieving target level of HDL-C 35 mg/dl or more in routine clinical practice. A total number of 1420 dyslipidemia patients (mean age 50 years, male 58%) were included and analyzed in this report. The overall prevalence of hypoalphalipoproteinemia in our study was 35.4% and it was correlated with the risk level of the patients; 21.9% among low risk group (patient with < 2 other risk factor), 39.6% in high risk group (≥ 2 other risk factors) and 44.3% in patients with CHD. After 12 week treatment, the prevalence decreased to 12%, 20% and 18% in low risk, high risk and CHD patients respectively. The magnitude of HDL-C changes correlated inversely with base-line HDL-C and it was highest (59%) in the lowest HDL-C group (< 25 mg/dl) and the least change (23%) was found in group with the highest HDL-C level (≥ 45 mg/dl). Only 46% of patients with low HDL-C value at baseline achieved normal HDL-C level after treatment. In conclusion, the prevalence of low HDL-C in dyslipidemia patients was high especially in high risk group and in CHD patients. The majority of patients with low HDL-C at base-line could not reach the target level for HDL-C of 35 mg/dl or more after 12 weeks treatment with lipid modification drugs.