Lipid lowering after myocardial infarction in hospital practice

Abstract

There is strong evidence for the use of HMG Co‐A reductase inhibitors (statins) for secondary prevention after myocardial infarction. Previous surveys suggest sub‐optimal use of such secondary prevention measures. The national service framework (NSF) for coronary heart disease (CHD) has now set new standards for preventing and treating CHD. In our audit of 182 survivors of myocardial infarction in 1999, 86.2 per cent had cholesterols measured on admission, but only 39 per cent had statins prescribed on discharge. Our data provide information about base‐line practice for the year immediately preceding the publication of the NSF and indicate that the average district general hospital may have a long way to go to meet the target set by the NSF.

Citation

Dutta, D. and Ogunnaike, B. (2002), "Lipid lowering after myocardial infarction in hospital practice", British Journal of Clinical Governance, Vol. 7 No. 3, pp. 154-157. https://doi.org/10.1108/14664100210438235