Ministry of Health Clinical Practice Guidelines: Lipids

Abstract

The Ministry of Health (MOH) has updated the Clinical Practice Guidelines on Lipids to provide doctors and patients in Singapore with evidence-based treatment for lipids. This article reproduces the introduction and executive summary (with recommendations from the guidelines) from the MOH Clinical Practice Guidelines on Lipids, for the information of SMJ readers. Chapters and page numbers mentioned in the reproduced extract refer to the full text of the guidelines, which are available from the Ministry of Health website:

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol target attainment in patients with stable or acute coronary heart disease in the Asia-Pacific region: results from the Dyslipidemia International Study II

“…A number of Asian countries have recently published their own guidelines for the treatment of hyperlipidemia, with all recommending low LDL cholesterol targets (50-80 mg/dL) for patients at very high cardiovascular risk. 39,[42][43][44] It is hoped that this will improve the treatment of elevated LDL cholesterol in these and surrounding countries.…”

LDL-cholesterol change and goal attainment following statin intensity titration among Asians in primary care: a retrospective cohort study

“…Based on local clinical practice guidelines, patients with Dyslipidaemia are reviewed by the polyclinic physicians and nurse clinicians every 3 to 6 months and are recommended to undertake laboratory investigations to assess their lipid profiles either once or twice annually, with flexibility for closer monitoring if their medical conditions are unstable [ 6 ]. Their demographic, clinical and laboratory information are collated and documented in the polyclinic EMR system.…”

“…The association between lowering of Low-Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol (LDL-C) and reduction of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is well-established [ 1 , 2 ]. Clinical practice guidelines on Dyslipidaemia generally advocate lowering LDL-C to treatment goals based on each individual’s CVD risk [ 3 – 6 ]. The recommended LDL-C treatment goals, according to the 2019 European Society of Cardiology (ESC)/ European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) Guidelines are < 1.8 mmol/L and < 1.4 mmol/L for patients with high and very high CVD risks respectively [ 4 ].…”

Emeritus Professor Chia Boon Lock (1939–2017): Doyen of cardiology

“…He was the chairman of the workgroup for the first and second CPGs on lipids, which spanned more than a decade, and was the adviser for the third and most current guidelines. (2) Despite his contributions to numerous other areas, Prof Chia's greatest love and passion was the field of electrocardiography (ECG). While his peers collected fine wine and rare stamps, Prof Chia collected electrocardiograms.…”