OBJECTIVES:

The purpose of this analysis was to determine the effect of lipid test intervals on the risk of developing CVD among newly diagnosed dyslipidemia patients using the Korean National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database.

METHODS:

The study population consisted of 66,146 newly diagnosed dyslipidemia patients from the Korean National Health Insurance Service – Health Screening Cohort during 2003-2011. Frequency of lipid testing were detected from all admission and outpatient visit records next 3 years after diagnosis date. Afterwards, the participants were followed-up until 31 December 2015 for cardiovascular disease event (CVD). Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to determine the risk of developing CVD according to lipid testing interval.

RESULTS:

Compared to patients with lipid testing intervals of ≤6 months, patients with >6 to ≤12 (hazard ratio, HR, 1.14, 95% confidence interval, CI, 1.04-1.68), >12 to ≤18 (HR 1.17, 95% CI 1.10-1.83), and >18 (HR 1.21, 95% CI 1.26-2.03) month intervals had elevated risk for CVD (p for trend <0.001). In total strokes, the risk-increasing effect of CVD with longer lipid testing interval is stronger than MI or CHD and this positive association was preserved among subgroups according to drug adherence and outpatient department visits.

CONCLUSIONS:

Lipid testing intervals of more than 6 months may lead to increased risk of CVD among newly diagnosed dyslipidemia patients. Newly diagnosed dyslipidemia patients should be encouraged to check lipid profile at 6 months interval in order to reducing risk for CVD.