quality reports : Clinical Quality


Quality Insights: Clinical Quality in Primary Care

Heart Disease and Cholesterol Management:
Cholesterol Screening Test for Cardiovascular Disease

Healthcare quality measure: This measure looks at adult patients (18 to 75 years old) who have been in the hospital for problems related to cardiovascular disease, such as heart attack or heart surgery. It looks at how many of these patients have had cholesterol screening tests (blood tests to check a person’s cholesterol level) within one year after being discharged from the hospital.

Reasons for this measure: Adults in the U.S. are more likely to die from heart problems than any other disease. Coronary heart disease causes more than 450,000 deaths each year in the United States. People who have had one heart attack are at high risk for more heart problems. One way to lower this risk is by keeping cholesterol levels in control. This starts with having a cholesterol screening test.

Ways your doctor can help...

  • Test your blood cholesterol level. Your doctor may ask you to have a “complete lipoprotein profile.” This measures the amount of total cholesterol, HDL (good) cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, and triglycerides in your blood.
  • Talk with you about ways to lower LDL cholesterol. This often includes staying a healthy weight, being active each day, and eating foods low in saturated fats and cholesterol (such as low or no-fat dairy, egg whites, and fish).
  • Prescribe medications if they would help. You doctor will discuss why these medications are right for you, how they can help, and ways to take them.
  • May refer you to a dietician or other health care provider who can help you control cholesterol.

Ways you can help...

  • Learn about cholesterol. This includes knowing the difference between HDL (good cholesterol) and LDL (bad cholesterol).
  • Have a cholesterol screening test. This measures all types of cholesterol in your blood.
  • Control cholesterol by eating foods low in saturated fat and cholesterol (such as low or no-fat dairy, egg whites, and fish).
  • Stay a healthy weight. This may mean changing the foods you eat.
  • Talk with your doctor about exercise and other ways to stay active.
  • Take medication as your doctor prescribes.
  • Make lifestyle changes. These may be to quit smoking and stop drinking wine, beer, or other spirits.
  • Make a list of all your questions about cholesterol. Ask your doctor these questions and make sure you understand the answers. If not, ask again. Here are questions many people ask:
    • What do my cholesterol numbers mean?
    • What is my cholesterol goal?
    • How long will it take to reach my cholesterol goal?
    • How often should I have my blood levels checked?
    • How does exercise affect my cholesterol levels?
    • How does smoking affect my cholesterol levels?
    • What type of foods should I eat?
    • Do I need to lose weight? If so, how much should I lose?
    • Will I need cholesterol-lowering medication?

Ways to learn more...

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