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The British Journal
of Cardiology

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This House believes that the UK healthcare system may be failing as many as 50% of patients with hyperlipidaemia by not reducing their cholesterol to effective levels: a debate

May 2005 Volume 12, Supplement 1 Br J Cardiol 2005;12(Suppl 1):S2-S7

Authors:
Dr Clive Weston, Dr Nigel Capps, Dr Stewart Findlay, Ms Julie Foxton, Professor Richard Hobbs, Dr Terry McCormack, Dr Jim McMorran, Dr John Pittard, Ms Jan Procter-King

Sponsorship statement: This is a sponsored supplement to The British Journal of Cardiology. Details of sponsorship can be found by downloading the PDF.

A panel of experts, sponsored by Merck Sharp & Dohme Ltd and Schering-Plough Ltd and
made up of cardiologists, lipidologists, general practitioners and nurses with a special interest in coronary heart disease and lipid management, met recently to debate whether individuals with hyperlipidaemia are being treated to effective levels and, if not, how current and future treatment options could be better employed to reduce cardiovascular risk.

Most recently published data show that up to 50% of patients with raised cholesterol are not receiving lipid-lowering therapy, and that of those who are being treated, around 50% are not achieving guideline targets.

This under-treated sector of the population – described as the ‘Forgotten 50’ in a recent report sponsored by Merck Sharp & Dohme Ltd and Schering-Plough Ltd – may be at significant risk of suffering preventable cardiovascular events, excess morbidity and premature mortality.

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Disclaimer: UK prescribing information current at the date of publication of this supplement can be found by downloading the PDF. Medinews Cardiology Limited advises healthcare professionals to consult up-to-date Prescribing Information and the full Summary of Product Characteristics available from the manufacturers before prescribing any product. Medinews Cardiology Limited cannot accept responsibility for any errors in prescribing which may occur.