Factors associated with lipid goal attainment among acute coronary syndrome patients

BACKGROUND: The incidence of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), one of the most common cardiovascular diseases, is high. Lipid goal attainment is one of the important factors to reduce the risk of recurrent heart attack. Identification of factors influencing lipid goal attainment such as age, female, race, underlying comorbidities, intensity of lipid-lowering therapy, patients’ knowledge, and patients’ belief about medicine would be beneficial in achieving the lipid goal. This study is aimed to determine lipid profile attainment and prescribing pattern of lipid-lowering therapy as well as to identify factors influencing lipid profile attainment among ACS patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This researcher-assisted cross-sectional survey was carried out at a cardiology clinic in a tertiary hospital from March to May 2015. RESULTS: A total of 101 ACS patients were involved in this study. The mean values for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were 2.75 (0.82) mmol/L and 1.14 (0.27) mmol/L, respectively, while the median value for triglyceride level was 2.75 (0.82) mmol/L. Only 15.8% of our participants achieved the targeted LDL-C. Simvastatin 20 mg was the most common regimen prescribed. Predictors for better LDL-C attainment were younger age (β=−0.228; P=0.032) and higher knowledge score (β=−0.255; P=0.049), while predictors for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol attainment were male (β=0.268; P=0.006), smoking (β=−0.192; P=0.045), and higher knowledge score (β=−0.195; P=0.039). Smoking (β=−0.361; P<0.0001) was the only predictor for higher triglyceride level. CONCLUSION: Younger age, female, lower knowledge score, and smoking status are good predictors for lipid attainment among ACS patients.