BACKGROUND: Dyslipidemias include high levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and triglycerides and low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Dyslipidemia is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which is a major contributor to mortality in Canada. Approximately 23% of the 2009/11 Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) participants had a high level of LDL cholesterol, with prevalence increasing with age, and approximately 15% had a total cholesterol to HDL ratio above the threshold. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the frequency of lipid testing in adults not diagnosed with dyslipidemia and in adults on treatment for dyslipidemia. RESEARCH METHODS: A systematic review of the literature set out to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs), systematic reviews, health technology assessments (HTAs), and observational studies published between January 1, 2000, and November 29, 2012, that evaluated the frequency of testing for dyslipidemia in the 2 populations. RESULTS: Two observational studies assessed the frequency of lipid testing, 1 in individuals not on lipid-lowering medications and 1 in treated individuals. Both studies were based on previously collected data intended for a different objective and, therefore, no conclusions could be reached about the frequency of testing at intervals other than the ones used in the original studies. Given this limitation and generalizability issues, the quality of evidence was considered very low. No evidence for the frequency of lipid testing was identified in the 2 HTAs included. Canadian and international guidelines recommend testing for dyslipidemia in individuals at an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. The frequency of testing recommended is based on expert consensus. CONCLUSIONS: Conclusions on the frequency of lipid testing could not be made based on the 2 observational studies. Current guidelines recommend lipid testing in adults with increased cardiovascular risk, with the frequency of testing based on individual cardiovascular risk.
BACKGROUND:Dyslipidemias include high levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and triglycerides and low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Dyslipidemia is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which is a major contributor to mortality in Canada. Approximately 23% of the 2009/11 Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) participants had a high level of LDL cholesterol, with prevalence increasing with age, and approximately 15% had a total cholesterol to HDL ratio above the threshold. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the frequency of lipid testing in adults not diagnosed with dyslipidemia and in adults on treatment for dyslipidemia. RESEARCH METHODS: A systematic review of the literature set out to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs), systematic reviews, health technology assessments (HTAs), and observational studies published between January 1, 2000, and November 29, 2012, that evaluated the frequency of testing for dyslipidemia in the 2 populations. RESULTS: Two observational studies assessed the frequency of lipid testing, 1 in individuals not on lipid-lowering medications and 1 in treated individuals. Both studies were based on previously collected data intended for a different objective and, therefore, no conclusions could be reached about the frequency of testing at intervals other than the ones used in the original studies. Given this limitation and generalizability issues, the quality of evidence was considered very low. No evidence for the frequency of lipid testing was identified in the 2 HTAs included. Canadian and international guidelines recommend testing for dyslipidemia in individuals at an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. The frequency of testing recommended is based on expert consensus. CONCLUSIONS: Conclusions on the frequency of lipid testing could not be made based on the 2 observational studies. Current guidelines recommend lipid testing in adults with increased cardiovascular risk, with the frequency of testing based on individual cardiovascular risk.
Authors: Gordon H Guyatt; Andrew D Oxman; Holger J Schünemann; Peter Tugwell; Andre Knottnerus Journal: J Clin Epidemiol Date: 2010-12-24 Impact factor: 6.437
Authors: Jacques Genest; Ruth McPherson; Jiri Frohlich; Todd Anderson; Norm Campbell; André Carpentier; Patrick Couture; Robert Dufour; George Fodor; Gordon A Francis; Steven Grover; Milan Gupta; Robert A Hegele; David C Lau; Lawrence Leiter; Gary F Lewis; Eva Lonn; G B John Mancini; Dominic Ng; Glen J Pearson; Allan Sniderman; James A Stone; Ehud Ur Journal: Can J Cardiol Date: 2009-10 Impact factor: 5.223
Authors: Zeljko Reiner; Alberico L Catapano; Guy De Backer; Ian Graham; Marja-Riitta Taskinen; Olov Wiklund; Stefan Agewall; Eduardo Alegria; M John Chapman; Paul Durrington; Serap Erdine; Julian Halcox; Richard Hobbs; John Kjekshus; Pasquale Perrone Filardi; Gabriele Riccardi; Robert F Storey; David Wood Journal: Eur Heart J Date: 2011-06-28 Impact factor: 29.983
Authors: Todd J Anderson; Jean Grégoire; Robert A Hegele; Patrick Couture; G B John Mancini; Ruth McPherson; Gordon A Francis; Paul Poirier; David C Lau; Steven Grover; Jacques Genest; André C Carpentier; Robert Dufour; Milan Gupta; Richard Ward; Lawrence A Leiter; Eva Lonn; Dominic S Ng; Glen J Pearson; Gillian M Yates; James A Stone; Ehud Ur Journal: Can J Cardiol Date: 2013-02 Impact factor: 5.223