Family Practice Vol. 9, No. 2, 167-170
© Oxford University Press 1992
research-article |
A Practical Intervention Programme Aimed at Decreasing High Serum Cholesterol Levels in Primary Care
The Kibbutz Kalia Medical Clinic and the Department of Internal Medicine, Shaare Zedek Medical Center PO Box 293, Jerusalem 91000, Israel
Address for correspondence (until June 30, 1992): AM Yinnon, Infectious Diseases Unit, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Eimwood Avenue, Box 689, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
A practical, primary care based intervention programme which aimed to tower serum cholesterol in a large percentage of hypercholesterolaemic subjects in general practice is described. Intervention consisted of a 8–10 minute interview supplying oral and written diet counselling. The programme was tried in a kibbutz (agricultural settlement) with 93 adult members: 89 had their serum cholesterol determined, 35 of whom (39%) were hypercholesterolaemic—19 had borderline high cholesterol (5.2–6.2 mmol/l), 16 had definitely high cholesterol (602 mmol/l). Repeat blood samples were taken from 33 of the 35 hypercholesterolaemic patients 6–9 months after exposure to the intervention programme. The initial cholesterol level of the hypercholesterolaemic group was 6.31 ± 0.2 mmol/l (mean ± SE): at follow up it was 5.3 ± 0.2 mmol/l (P < 0.001), a decrease in serum cholesterol (mean 22.2 ± 2.1%) being seen in 28 of 33 patients (84%). In 19 patients (58%) cholesterol dropped to normal values, and in six additional cases (18%) it fell to borderline values. These data suggest that high cholesterol levels in otherwise normal adults may be reduced with little effort by the primary care physician and nurse.