Evaluation of hypercholesterolemia management in at-risk patients by cardiologists in France: a case vignette-based study

• Main Authors: Jean Ferrieres (Author), Eric Bruckert (Author), Michel Farnier (Author), Michel Krempf (Author), Jean-Jacques Mourad (Author), Baptiste Roux (Author), Francois Schiele (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Becaris Publishing Limited, 2023-03-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.57264/cer-2022-0181; 2042-6313
• Keywords: cardiologists; cardiovascular risk; case-vignette; ezetimibe; france; hypercholesterolemia; lipid-lowering; online interactive survey; statin; treatment; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270
• Source: Journal of Comparative Effectiveness Research, Vol 12, Iss 4 (2023)

Aim: This online interactive survey investigated lipid-lowering approaches of French cardiologists in highand very high-cardiovascular risk patients with hypercholesterolemia. Materials & methods: Physicians assessed three hypothetical patients at three clinic visits, and selected the patients' cardiovascular risk category, target low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and treatment. Results: A total of 162 physicians completed 480 risk assessments; 58% of assessments correctly categorized the hypothetical patients. Most physicians chose the correct LDL-C target for one of the very high-risk patients, but higherthan- recommended targets were selected for the other very high-risk patient and the high-risk patient. Statins were the most commonly chosen treatment. Conclusion: French cardiologists often underestimate cardiovascular risk in patients with hypercholesterolemia, select a higher-than-recommended LDL-C target and prescribe less intensive treatment than that recommended by guidelines.