Knowledge based lipid management system for general practitioners.

The aim of this system is to provide computer generated interpretative reports with management advice for General Practitioners (GPs). The lipid domain was chosen because of its importance in preventive medicine. Request forms to elicit extra clinical information were designed and distributed to a group of randomly selected GPs. Interpretation of laboratory and clinical data categorizes patients according to risk of coronary heart disease. The management system is rule based and provides advice on lifestyle modifications, diet and drug intervention. Previous clinical and laboratory results are taken into account in determining a management strategy. To date 435 request forms have been processed: 309 (71%) from first visits and 126 (29%) from follow-up visits. Normal lipid profiles were found in 19% of cases. There was 93% agreement between management advice given by the system and the expert. The system has now been modified and further evaluation is under way.