Characteristics of patients with dyslipidemia treated in routine care setting in China

Abstract

Objective: To describe characteristics of patients with dyslipidemia treated in routine care in China overall and stratified by diabetes and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).

Methods: This study used data from a cross-sectional survey conducted in China in 2017 under the Dyslipidemia Disease Specific Programme (DSP). Each surveyed physician provided information including demographics, dyslipidemia diagnosis and treatment history, lab values on at least 8 patients currently treated for dyslipidemia with oversampling of patients with ASCVD or diabetes mellitus diagnosis at the time of survey. A related patient survey assessed treatment adherence and satisfaction.

Results: This study included 195 physicians (40 endocrinologists, 75 internists, 80 cardiologists) who provided data on 1870 patients (852 with diabetes; 1018 patients without diabetes). Among patients with diabetes, 279 had ASCVD and 573 did not (non-ASCVD). In the diabetic population, patients with ASCVD were older (67.3 vs. 62.1 years), more often had caregiver support (34 vs. 14%), and had higher average LDL-C at diagnosis (172.4 vs. 167.4 mg/dL) compared to their non-ASCVD counterparts. Findings were similar for non-diabetic patients (ASCVD: 323 patients; non-ASCVD: 695) patients. In all four subgroups, 46–54% of patients reported low treatment adherence, and fewer than half expressed satisfaction with their cholesterol control, and 2–5% had LDL-C < 70 mg/dL at their most recent assessment.

Conclusions: Among patients with dyslipidemia, those with ASCVD had higher LDL-C levels than patients without ASCVD, and many required caregiving. Low levels of treatment adherence, LDL-C control, and patient satisfaction suggest opportunities to improve care for Chinese patients with dyslipidemia.

Keywords:

• Dyslipidemia
• hyperlipidemia
• diabetes
• atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease
• China

Note

Transparency

Declaration of funding

Amgen Inc. sponsored this study.

Declaration of financial/other relationships

GL is a professor of economics at Peking University. PR and YQ are employees and stockholders of Amgen Inc. Z. Zhao was an employee and stockholder of Amgen Inc. at the time of the study. JS, HB, and NW are employees of Adelphi, which received funding from Amgen Inc. to conduct this research. JDA peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Sally Wade, Wade Outcomes Research and Consulting, for writing support.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are not publicly available due to contractual restrictions regarding their use.

Notes

1 Morisky Scale. Use of the MMAS is protected by US copyright and registered trademark laws. Permission for use is required. A license agreement is available from Donald E. Morisky, 294 Lindura Court, Las Vegas, NV 89138-4632. [email protected]