Change in Cholesterol Awareness and Action

Schucker, Beth; Wittes, Janet; Santanello, Nancy C.; Weber, Stephen J.; McGoldrick, Daniel; Donato, Karen A.; Levy, Alan S.; Rifkind, Basil M.

doi:10.1001/archinte.1991.00400040020006

Cited by 116 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Our data suggest that deficiencies in physician knowledge and attitudes regarding atherosclerotic risk factor reduction in patients with PAD contribute to lower rates of risk factor reduction in these patients. Because previous studies demonstrated suboptimal rates of atherosclerotic risk factor reduction for patients with CAD, 24–28 our finding that physicians report even lower rates of risk factor reduction for PAD than for CAD patients is striking.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 71%

Atherosclerotic risk factor reduction in peripheral arterial disease

et al. 2002

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OBJECTIVE: Individuals with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) have a 3‐ to 6‐fold increased risk of coronary heart disease and stroke compared to those without PAD. We documented physician‐reported practice behavior, knowledge, and attitudes regarding atherosclerotic risk factor reduction in patients with PAD. DESIGN: National physician survey. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: General internists (N = 406), family practitioners (N = 435), cardiologists (N = 473), and vascular surgeons (N = 264) randomly identified using the American Medical Association's physician database. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Physicians were randomized to 1 of 3 questionnaires describing a) a 55‐ to 65‐year‐old patient with PAD; b) a 55‐ to 65‐year‐old patient with coronary artery disease (CAD), or c) a 55‐ to 65‐year‐old patient without clinically evident atherosclerosis (no disease). A mailed questionnaire was used to compare physician behavior, knowledge, and attitude regarding risk factor reduction for each patient. Rates of prescribed antiplatelet therapy were significantly lower for the patient with PAD than for the patient with CAD. Average low‐density lipoprotein levels at which physicians “almost always” initiated lipid‐lowering drugs were 121.6 ± 23.5 mg/dL, 136.3 ± 28.9 mg/dL, and 149.7 ± 24.4 mg/dL for the CAD, PAD, and no‐disease patients, respectively (P < .001). Physicians stated that antiplatelet therapy (P < .001) and cholesterol‐lowering therapy (P < .001) were extremely important significantly more often for the CAD than for the PAD patient. Perceived importance of risk factor interventions was highly correlated with practice behavior. Compared to other specialties, cardiologists had lowest thresholds, whereas vascular surgeons had the highest thresholds for initiating cholesterol‐lowering interventions for the patient with PAD. Cardiologists were significantly more likely to report “almost always” prescribing antiplatelet therapy for the patient with PAD than were all other physicians. CONCLUSIONS: Deficiencies in physician knowledge and attitudes contribute to lower rates of atherosclerotic risk factor reduction for patients with PAD. Reversing these deficiencies may reduce the high rates of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality associated with PAD.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 71%

Atherosclerotic risk factor reduction in peripheral arterial disease

et al. 2002

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“…The same group of investigators reported on a third national tele- phone survey conducted in 1990, which showed a further increase to 65% of the population who reported having been screened for elevated blood cholesterol level. 10 Farquhar and colleagues 11 reported on time trends in the knowledge, cholesterol levels, and lifestyle of adults in communities in California that were part of the Stanford Five-City Project. The Five-City Project demonstrated the favorable impact of community-wide education programs on the understanding of risk factors for CHD and their prevalence in the population.…”

Section: Commentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contemporary Awareness and Understanding of Cholesterol as a Risk Factor

et al. 2003

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“…Levels of perceived hypercholesterolemia increased in both sexes over time ( Group_ 1980-1982 1985-1987 1990-1992 1980-1982 1985-1987 1990-1992 All participants 6 Method_1980-1982Method_1980- 1985Method_1980- -1987Method_1980- 1990Method_1980- -1992Method_1980- 1980Method_1980- -1982Method_1980- 1985Method_1980- -1987Method_1980- 1990Method_1980- -1992 Currently treated with cholesterol-lowering medication 8. (Table 2).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Personal interviews about knowledge of cholesterol level and hypercholesterolemia awareness and treatment were conducted. Total serum cholesterol was measured; hypercholesterolemia was defined as having a total cholesterol level of 6.21 mmol/L or more (\m=ge\240mg/dL) or current use of cholesterol-lowering medications. Hypercholesterolemia awareness was defined as the belief of a participant with hypercholesterolemia that her or his total cholesterol was high.…”

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confidence: 99%