(P019) AN EVALUATION OF FOLLOW UP QUALITY: LIPID MANAGEMENT AFTER ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME

Background: CAD is a common disease among cardiology patients in Canada. Up to 2,1% of Canadians above the age of twenty have suffered an acute coronary syndrome1 (ACS). Strict lipid management after ACS has been proven to be effective in secondary prevention. The LDL target value is 1,8 mmol/L and lipid profiles are recommended yearly or every 4-12 weeks after a treatment adjustment. We developed this study to determine if target LDL values were attained after ACS and if lipid panel follow ups were done as recommended by cardiologists at our hospitals. Our aim was to use the results to optimize clinical practices in our department.

METHODS AND RESULTS: We analysed the medical files of 200 adult patients who had an ACS in the last five years and were treated at one of our hospitals. We noted the patients age, comorbidities and the treatment method used. We excluded patients who suffered from ischemic cardiomyopathy or stable angina who did not have an episode of ACS in the last five years. We then analysed all the lipid panels these patients had from their ACS up to April 2023 to determine what percentage achieved LDL target and if follow ups were done on time.

Our results show that 91% of the cohort had a lipid panel done at the time of their ACS. However, only 40% had a lipid panel follow up in the 3 months following their ACS. 51% had a lipid panel done 12 months following their ACS. Three months after their ACS, 71% of patients who had a lipid panel done were at LDL target and 12 months after their ACS, 83% of patients who had a lipid panel done were at LDL target.

Conclusion: In conclusion, our results show that only 40% and 51% of patients respectively had a follow up lipid panel done 3 and 12 months after their initial episode of ACS. Ideally, these percentages should be much closer to 100%. However, most patients who had a follow up panel done attained LDL target (83% at one year). These findings highlight the need for our team to introduce a more systematic way of insuring lipid panel follow ups.