Lipid Clinics as Disease Management Programmes in the United States

Abstract

Aggressive lipid disorder therapy in both primary and secondary prevention has been shown to reduce progression of coronary heart disease, reduce mortality and clinical events and ultimately reduce healthcare costs. Outpatient cardiac centres, diabetic treatment clinics, multispecialty medical groups, primary care medicine, and health management organisations currently have a unique opportunity to establish cost-effective lipid management programmes. Lipid clinics involve more than drug therapy and formulary management. Lipid clinics fit well within the genre of disease management; they target algorithmically driven therapy to high risk populations using intensive patient education, frequent follow-up and proven behaviour change strategies. Properly planned and organised, lipid clinics significantly enhance therapeutic compliance and lipid goal achievement compared with usual care. Successful lipid clinic operation also requires judicious staffing, sufficient patient volume, efficient referral mechanisms, tracking of outcomes measures, business development skills, and eventual integration with more comprehensive cardiovascular disease risk reduction services. This systematic approach to lipid management and cardiovascular disease risk reduction will afford meaningful opportunities for physician groups and integrated healthcare systems who aspire to reduce the unnecessary burden of premature cardiovascular disease.