Opportunistic Screening for Hypercholesterolaemia with Participants Selected by the General Practitioner. Inclusion and Drop-out Rate

• Published in: Family practice 1991-12, Vol.8 (4), p.360-366
• Main Authors: OVHED, INGVAR, ODEBERG, HÅKAN, RÅSTAM, LENNART
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Age Factors; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia - diagnosis; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Compliance; Patient Dropouts - statistics & numerical data; Physicians, Family; Primary Health Care; Risk Factors
• ISSN: 0263-2136; 1460-2229
• DOI: 10.1093/fampra/8.4.360

The objective of this study was to evaluate a method for opportunistic hypercholesterolaemia screening in primary care. At Lyckeby Primary Health Care Centre in Southern Sweden, where six general practitioners provide care to a population of 15706 inhabitants, screening of patients aged 25–59 years was integrated with regular case-finding for hypertension. The specific characteristic of the programme was that the general practitioner adjusted, from day to day, the inclusion rate to actual resources. The study evaluated implementation during 3 years; after this time, 27 per cent of the target population was included. The included portion of those who visited the centre was 48% between ages 40 and 59 years, and 20% of those between 25 and 39 years. Compliance with the follow-up protocol differed according to age and risk group. The reattendance rates were better for those aged 40–59 years compared to the younger. It is concluded that opportunistic screening is most feasible in ages 40–59 years, while for younger people traditional population strategies may be preferable. If integrated with regular case-finding and treatment follow-up for hypertension, which are long well established components of general practice, no extra resources are needed for implementation.