The Effects of Isolated versus Multiple Lipid Disorders on Resource Utilization among Metabolic Syndrome Patients with Lipid Abnormalities despite Lipid-Modifying Treatment

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare resource utilization among metabolic syndrome (MetS) patients with multiple (≧2) lipid disorders (MLD) versus isolated (any 1) lipid disorder (ILD). Methods: Data for MetS patients on lipid-modifying therapy (LMT) were collected from the 2006 Adelphi Metabolic Syndrome Disease Specific Programme^© cross-sectional study of patients from 5 European countries. The presence of MetS and lipid disorders, including elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides (TG), and low high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C), were based on the National Cholesterol Education Program definitions. Analyses compared primary care physician (PCP) and specialist visits over the past 6 months among ILD versus MLD patients. Results: Among 4,836 MetS patients, 2,843 had ≧1 lipid disorders and were on LMT. Controlling for other risk factors, MLD patients had significantly higher physician visits than those with ILD (p = 0.009), but hospitalizations were not significantly different. Patients experiencing all 3 lipid disorders had significantly more endocrinologist visits (p = 0.002) as compared with ILD patients, while patients with elevated LDL-C and abnormal HDL-C and/or TG compared with isolated elevated LDL-C had significantly more PCP (p = 0.001) and cardiologist visits (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Among MetS patients on LMT, presence of MLD resulted in significantly higher PCP and specialist visits compared with ILD.