OBJECTIVES: Clinical trials demonstrated that low-density lipoprotein (LDL) lowering therapy reduces mortality and morbidity in coronary heart disease patients. Therefore, it is important to ensure patient adhering to their LDL-lowering therapies. In July 2001, an intensive treatment protocol was introduced at the United Christian Hospital (UCH) in Hong Kong. The purpose of this study is to describe the impact of the protocol on the lipid levels in patients having elective percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). METHODS: Case notes were reviewed retrospectively. The study cohort consisted of patients who were above 18 years old requiring first elective PCI from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2002. Patients with a history of previous PCI or coronary artery bypass surgery were excluded. The intensive monitoring started from 1 July 2001. The primary outcome measurement was the LDL levels. The secondary outcome measurement was the percentage of goal attainment. Lipid control was defined as adequate if the LDL level was < or = 2.6 mmol/L. The LDL levels were measured at baseline, 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. RESULTS: A total of 617 patients were recruited. There were 383 patients in the intensive monitoring group and 283 patients in the control group. In the control group, a less intensive monitoring was adopted. Less than 20% of control group patients had a regular 3-monthly LDL-levels monitoring. Over 60% of patients in the intensive monitoring group and 10% of the control group patients reached target LDL-levels by week 4. Over 90% of the intensive monitoring group patients maintained at target LDL levels in a following 6-month period. CONCLUSION: This study shows that intensive monitoring of LDL-levels in hyperlipidaemic patients receiving PCI have a higher goal attainment rate that remains high within 6-month period. This study paves way for a prospective, randomized-control trial to confirm the results in the future.