[Diagnosis of atherogenic dyslipidaemia by primary care physicians in Spain]

Objective: To describe the diagnostic management of patients with atherogenic dyslipidaemia (AD) by primary care physicians (PC).

Methodology: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted based on a structured questionnaire. The content of the questionnaire was based on a review of the literature, and was validated by 3 AD experts. It included 23 questions, and was addressed to primary care physicians (PC). This sub-study will analyse questions related to the detection and diagnosis of AD.

Results: A total of 1,029 PC participated in the study. Almost all (96.99%) said that DA is a determining factor for cardiovascular risk (CVR), even with LDL-C targets. Residual CVR was evaluated by 88.43% in their clinical practice, but only 27.89% in secondary prevention. Most of the PCs used LDL-c-non-HDL-c (55.49% vs 20.02%) in AD as a control objective, and 15.35% used TG, and 9.14% HDL-C. For the diagnosis of AD, 82.22% used TC, TG, HDL-C, and non-HDL-C. PC physicians used the TC / HDL-C atherogenic ratio (53.06%) and LDL-C / HDL-C ratio (49.56%), considering them useful / very useful (86.30% and 85.04%, respectively), with only 28.08% using the TG / HDL-C index, with 69.29% considering it useful / very useful.

Conclusions: The PCs have a high level of knowledge of the guidelines. Underdiagnosis continues, with heterogeneity in determining objectives, and low use of the TG / HDL-C index to evaluate these patients. Greater awareness is needed for the detection and diagnosis of AD.