TURK KARDIYOLOJI DERNEGI ARSIVI-ARCHIVES OF THE TURKISH SOCIETY OF CARDIOLOGY, sa.8, ss.590-599, 2024 (ESCI)
Although guidelines strongly recommend low levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), these goals are not achieved in many patients. We present expert recommendations for the in-hospital and post-discharge management of lipid-lowering therapy in ACS patients in T & uuml;rkiye. A group of expert cardiologists comprising members of the Turkish Society of Cardiology and leading lipidologists who have all worked in national cardiology lipid working groups for at least 4 years, considered the optimal approach to lipid management in ACS patients in T & uuml;rkiye, taking into account Turkish healthcare infrastructure and issues from real-world practice. Novel standardized algorithms covering the first year after an ACS event were developed. The main elements of the proposed approach are summarized. The in-hospital strategy includes lipid profile assessments and commencement of statin therapy, including appropriate measures for patients with possible familial hypercholesterolemia or with a history of recurrent cardiovascular events. The role of a specially-trained nurse, use of a patient follow-up card, and the provision of patient information and referrals to affiliated healthcare professionals, are covered. The post-discharge strategy covers follow-up visits to monitor the patient's progress and recommends timepoints at which modifications to treatment (based on LDL-C levels) should be made. A country-specific approach to lipid management in ACS patients in T & uuml;rkiye is proposed. Further work is needed to determine the best way to implement the strategy, and to validate the recommendations and their application in daily practice.