Longitudinal study of the impact of lipid lowering therapy on carotid atherosclerosis

s / Atherosclerosis 231 (2013) e1–e10 e5 Reassuringly, 72% knew that FH should be considered in adults with a total cholesterol >7.5mmol/l, but just 56% were aware of or had used the Simon Broome criteria. Further, while 61% were aware of the NICE guidelines, just 12% had actually used them. Disappointingly, while 32% had detected FH in a first-degree relative of a patient already diagnosed with FH, 31% were not aware of the indications for cascade testing, Similar numbers believed the diagnosis requires genetic testing. This reflects the finding that only 50% knew the prevalence of FH in the United Kingdom and 54% the pattern of inheritance. 78% underestimated the relative risk of premature death associated with FH. Worryingly, just 8% thought their region managed FH well. 69% believed that better access to specialist lipid clinics would improve care and 74% felt more education would improve the identification and management of FH. These recommendations are in keeping with the results of this survey. We are investigating the effect of targeted education locally. LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF THE IMPACT OF LIPID LOWERING THERAPY ON CAROTID ATHEROSCLEROSIS M. Seed , D. Bond , M. Griffin , A. Nicolaides . 1 Imperial College NHS Trust, London, UK; Vascular U/S Diagnostic Centre, London, UK NICE guidelines for primary prevention of CVD include reduction of LDL-C to 2 mmol/l in high risk patients and by 50% in patients with FH. We wished to see whether such levels might be achieved in a lipid clinic setting, and if so what effect this had on carotid plaque thickness and type. Subjects: 31patients,10with definite FH (mean age 42), the remainder with mixed hyperlipidaemia (MHL), mean age 54, were treated, and followed up with serial carotid ultrasound examinations over a 2-9 year period. No FH patients were hypertensive or diabetic. 10 with MHL had hypertension and 3 type 2 diabetes; 6 were ex-smokers. Methods: B mode ultrasonic assessments of plaque thickness and type were performed in all patients initially and at follow-up (mean 4 years (all); mean 6 years, n1⁄417). Measurements were taken by a single “blinded” operator. Results FH (n1⁄410) MHL (n1⁄421)