Impact of the 2016 Canadian Lipid Guidelines on Daily Practice at a Community Hospital.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the impact of the 2016 Canadian cardiovascular society guidelines for the management of dyslipidemia. More specifically, we assessed the use of 1) alternate lipid targets when triglyceride (TG) levels are high; and 2) nonfasting lipid testing.

Methods: Lipid profiles and pharmacy data were obtained from patients with a history of myocardial infarction and from patients ≥40 years of age with a diagnosis of diabetes.

Results: As TG increased to >1.5 mmol/L, percent within target for non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein B 18 months after guideline release remained low in both patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (40%) and patients with diabetes in primary prevention (30%). Approximately 50% of patients were fasting when presenting for lipid testing. Use of high-intensity statin was suboptimal in both groups.

Conclusions: The concept of alternate lipid targets may not be well understood by many physicians, leading to undertreatment of patients. Progress was made in the promotion of routine nonfasting lipid testing.