Treatment gaps in the implementation of LDL cholesterol control among high- and very high-risk patients in Europe between 2020 and 2021: the multinational observational SANTORINI study.

Background: European data pre-2019 suggest statin monotherapy is the most common approach to lipid management for preventing cardiovascular (CV) events, resulting in only one-fifth of high- and very high-risk patients achieving the 2019 ESC/EAS recommended low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goals. Whether the treatment landscape has evolved, or gaps persist remains of interest.

Methods: Baseline data are presented from SANTORINI, an observational, prospective study that documents the use of lipid-lowering therapies (LLTs) in patients ≥18 years at high or very high CV risk between 2020 and 2021 across primary and secondary care settings in 14 European countries.

Prevalence and Patient Outcomes of Adult Primary Hypercholesterolemia and Dyslipidemia in the UK: Longitudinal Retrospective Study Using a Primary Care Dataset from 2009 to 2019.

Background: Guidelines for the management of dyslipidemias recommend intensive low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) control through lifestyle advice and lipid-lowering drugs to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Objective: This retrospective study aimed to characterize the adult primary care population with primary hypercholesterolemia (PH)/mixed dyslipidemia (MD).

Methods: Data on adults with PH/MD between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2019 in the UK were extracted from linked primary Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) and secondary care (Hospital Episode Statistics) datasets and analyzed.

Assessment, reliability, and validity of trichoscopy in the evaluation of alopecia in women.

Background: Alopecia in women is generally difficult to diagnose clinically. Trichoscopy may help make the correct diagnosis in doubtful cases.

Objective: The aims of the study were to assess the trichoscopic features of different types of alopecia in women, the reliability of trichoscopy vis-à-vis clinical findings, and the validity of trichoscopy in cases with a doubtful clinical diagnosis.

Evaluation of contemporary treatment of high- and very high-risk patients for the prevention of cardiovascular events in Europe - Methodology and rationale for the multinational observational SANTORINI study.

Background And Aims: Clinical practice before 2019 suggests a substantial proportion of high and very high CV risk patients taking lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) would not achieve the new LDL-C goals recommended in the 2019 ESC/EAS guidelines (<70 and < 55 mg/dL, respectively). To what extent practice has changed since the last ESC/EAS guideline update is uncertain, and quantification of remaining implementation gaps may inform health policy.

Methods: The SANTORINI study is a multinational, multicentre, prospective, observational, non-interventional study documenting patient data at baseline (enrolment) and at 12-month follow-up.

Contracting-in management to strengthen publicly financed primary health services--the experience of Punjab, Pakistan.

Objectives: In response to low utilization of primary health services in rural areas, the Government of Punjab contracted with a local non-governmental organization (NGO) to manage the basic health units in one district.

Methods: To evaluate the performance of the contractor, health facility surveys, household surveys, and routinely collected information were used to compare the experimental district (Rahim Yar Khan, RYK) with a contiguous and equally poor district (Bahawalpur, BWP).

Results: The evaluation found that contracting led to more than a 50% increase in out-patient visits in RYK compared to BWP.