Best Practice Principles For cholesterol lowering - The British ...

Dr Nigel CappsConsultant Chemical Pathologist,Princess Royal Hospital, TelfordDr Marc EvansConsultant Diabetologist,Llandough Hospital, CardiffDr Terry McCormackGeneral Practitioner, WhitbyMs Jan Procter-KingCHD Trainer,Primary Care Training Centre, Bradford,and Editor of The British Journal ofPrimary Care Nursing – CVD and DiabetesDr Gershan DavisConsultant Cardiologist,University Hospital Aintree, LiverpoolDr Stewart FindlayGeneral Practitioner and PEC Chair,Durham Dales PCT, Bishop AucklandDr Clive WestonConsultant Cardiologist,Singleton Hospital, SwanseaDr Jonathan MorrellGeneral Practitioner and HospitalPractitioner in Cardiology, HastingsCorrespondence to:Marc Evans, Llandough Hospital, Cardiff,South Glamorgan, WalesBEST PRACTICE PRINCIPLESFOR CHOLESTEROL LOWERINGIn 2006, 78% of patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) achieved the National Qualityand Outcomes Framework (QOF) of the General Medical Services (GMS) target of 5.0 mmol/Lfor total cholesterol. 1 This is a significant achievement in secondary prevention and showsthat the standard of care in the UK is beginning to fall in line with that of the rest of Europe. 2Nevertheless, the UK still has one of the highest CHD mortality rates in Europe, 2 and we needtherefore to continue to work towards improving the quality of care and achieving more clinicallymeaningful targets for high-risk patients. The current targets outlined by the GMS for lipidlowering are less stringent than the newer evidence-based recommended targets of