Management of dyslipidemia in diabetic patients: The situation in primary health care units.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular disease is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Control of its risk factors, particularly diabetes and dyslipidemia, through reduction of LDL cholesterol, is crucial to reduce cardiovascular risk. This work aims to assess and improve the medical approach to dyslipidemia in diabetic patients.

METHODS: This is a quality improvement study aimed at family doctors. It included patients with diabetics and dyslipidemia enrolled in the primary health care units of Além D'Ouro, S. Miguel and Oceanos. A quality standard was defined for each of the criteria assessed, and the results were compared using the chi-square test with p-value<0.05. Data analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel 2010® and IBM SPSS®.

RESULTS: Comparing the first and second assessments, 14.6% vs. 22.2% (p=0.016) of the patients, respectively, achieved the LDL cholesterol target level of <70 mg/dl. Of those who did not meet the target level, 11.0% vs. 13.6% (p=0.395) had their pharmacological therapy changed and 4.6% vs. 3.3% (p=0.448) had their lipid profile reassessed within three months.

CONCLUSIONS: Control of dyslipidemia in patients with diabetes continues to be a major factor in the health of these patients, but it is carried out in an unsatisfactory way in the three health units studied. It is essential to increase the literacy of family doctors and to encourage the search for the best possible lipid control, in order to reduce cardiovascular risk, as well as to raise awareness among patients to increase adherence to therapy.