BACKGROUND: @entity299 is the commonest cause of mortality in the United Kingdom. The objective of this study was to assess the management of @entity1 with @entity299 in primary care, focusing particularly on the management of hypercholesterolaemia. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was carried out of the clinical records of @entity1 aged 25-74 years with confirmed @entity299 in six general practices (total list size 56 600). RESULTS: Recording of risk factors varied from 97 per cent for blood pressure to 73 per cent for @entity165 measurement. Seventy-two per cent of the @entity1 had adequate blood pressure control, based on their last recorded blood pressure. Sixty-one per cent (267) were known to be taking aspirin daily and 29 per cent (125) had undergone revascularization treatment. Sixty-eight per cent (296) of the @entity1 had pre-treatment @entity165 levels of 5.5 mmol/l or greater and 34 per cent (147) were currently taking lipid lowering drugs. Statins were the most commonly used @entity165 lowering agents and were being taken by 30 per cent (131) of the @entity1 . @entity1 who had undergone revascularization treatment had levels of recording of risk factors similar to other @entity1 with @entity299 but were more likely to be taking daily @entity117 (71 per cent versus 57 per cent, relative risk 1.24, 95 per cent confidence intervals (CI) 1.07-1.44). The mean pre-treatment @entity165 was 6.49mmol/l and the mean post-treatment @entity165 5.80 mmol/l (difference 0.69 mmol/l, 95 per cent CI 0.55-0.84 mmol/l). CONCLUSIONS: Systematic searches of computerized and paper medical records can identify subgroups of @entity1 who will benefit from continuing follow-up in primary care. The results of this study suggest that @entity299 remains an area where there is scope to improve the management of @entity1 in primary care. Considerable effort will be required from the members of the primary health care team to achieve this objective, particularly in the areas of computerized data collection and in the identification and recall of @entity1 .

Management of XXXX in primary care: towards better practice. STaRNet. South Thames Region Network.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['Patients', 'patients'] @entity117 :: ('MESH:D001241', 'Chemical') :: ['aspirin'] @entity165 :: ('MESH:D002784', 'Chemical') :: ['cholesterol'] @entity299 :: ('MESH:D006331', 'Disease') :: ['Ischaemic heart disease', 'ischaemic heart disease']
@entity299 :: (MESH:D006331,Disease) :: ['ischaemic heart disease']
