Lipid Lowering Agent Prescription and LDL Target Achievement in ACS Patients in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: The safety and efficacy of statins administered early to patients after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) diagnosis have been proven. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of compliance with guideline recommendations for high-intensity dose statins and achievement of reduced low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels among patients with ACS in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 566 patients at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Data on the patient's demographics, comorbidities, type of ACS, lipid profile at admission, statin type, statin use pattern, side effects, and if the patient achieved the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goal (70 mg/dl) or (3.9 mmol/l) after management were collected. Results: At admission, 34.1% had an LDL-C level below 100 mg/dl, 64.5% had total cholesterol below 200 mg/dl, 57.2% had an average triglyceride level, and 53.7% had high-density lipoprotein cholesterol below 40 mg/dl. Moreover, 91% of patients consumed high-potency statins, 99.1% had no statin side effects, and atorvastatin 20 mg was the most commonly used high-potency statin, followed by atorvastatin 40 mg. Approximately 83% of patients achieved the LDL-C goal (70 mg/dl) after management, and patients who had diabetes mellitus, familial hyperlipidemia, or obesity, who experienced no side effects of statins, who had ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, had an LDL-C level of 160-189 mg/dl at admission and those who had a high total cholesterol level at admission had a significantly higher level of achieving the LDL-C goal. Conclusions: In patients with congenital heart disease, lipid management could be improved to reduce the risk of recurrent cardiovascular disease and recurring episodes.