quality reports : Clinical Quality


Quality Insights: Clinical Quality in Primary Care

Heart Disease and Cholesterol Management:
Cholesterol (LDL-C) Good Control

Healthcare quality measure: This measure looks the adult members (18 to 75 years old) of the state’s five largest managed care health plans who have had a heart attack or heart surgery and had a serum cholesterol LDL-C test with a good result (below 100 mg/dl).

Reasons for this measure: High cholesterol is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, especially heart disease. Heart disease is the main cause of heart attacks. One in three American adults has high LDL cholesterol (130 mg/dL or higher). Treatment to lower LDL cholesterol levels in patients with heart disease, such as low-fat diets and medication, can reduce the risk of further heart attack or stroke.

Heart disease is the leading cause of early, permanent disability in the U.S. labor force, responsible for almost one in five disability allowances by Social Security.

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 control your 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...

Click here to search for your doctor's medical group results
or to compare measures across medical groups.

 

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