Repeated serum lipid measurements during the peri-hospitalization period.

The early treatment of hyperlipidemia in hospitalized patients confers potential benefit, yet total cholesterol is known to vary with acute illness, often delaying treatment decisions. A prospective study was conducted of 61 patients (mean age 57 years; 49% women) admitted to an acute care community hospital with various diagnoses with random nonfasting lipid profile measurements at admission, followed by second fasting lipid profile measurements on day 3 of hospitalization or upon discharge (whichever occurred first), and final fasting lipid profile measurements 4 weeks after discharge. All individual values of the lipid profile decreases at discharge, whereas the ratios of total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) to HDL did not change significantly.

Anticoagulation in the elderly.

This review will address the general approach to the management of the typical elderly patient requiring anticoagulation. Most of the data has been derived from studies of patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. Data from postmyocardial infarction trials have also been included.

Factors influencing physicians' reported use of anticoagulation therapy in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation: a cross-sectional survey.

Background: Some elderly patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) who might benefit from warfarin therapy do not receive it.

Objective: The goal of this cross-sectional study was to identify physicians' attitudes and beliefs that are associated with their reported use of warfarin in case scenarios.

Methods: A self-administered survey was mailed to a cross-section of general internists randomly selected from a national pool of physicians in the American Medical Association Masterfile.