Demographics, Clinical Characteristics, and Barriers to Care in Patients with Dyslipidaemia in the Arabian Gulf Region: The Gulf ACTION Registry.

INTRODUCTION This study evaluates dyslipidaemia management in the Arabian Gulf region.

METHODS The multicentre, multinational longitudinal Gulf ACTION registry includes adults (≥18 years old) on lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) recruited from outpatient clinics at 14 tertiary care centres and 9 primary care clinics across five Arabian Gulf countries.

RESULTS A total of 2884 patients were enrolled (mean age 58±12 years); 63% were male. The median first follow-up was 7 (6-11) months, and the median second follow-up was 14 (12-23) months. Among the cohort, 52% of patients were very high risk, 21% of whom achieved their LDL-C target; 40% were high risk, 24% achieved their LDL-C target; 2% were moderate risk, 72% achieved their LDL-C target; and 6% were low risk, 78% achieved their LDL-C target. Only 24% of the overall cohort and 30% of the very high-risk group were treated with combination LLT.

DISCUSSION Similar to international data from the SANTORINI and INTERASPIRE studies, our study showed that only one-fourth of the very high-risk group and one-third of the high-risk group achieved their LDL-C targets. Potential reasons include lower use of combination therapy, poor health behaviors, and psychosocial factors. The variability in practice patterns across the Arabian Gulf and even among study sites is a limitation.

CONCLUSION Very high- and high-risk groups were less likely to achieve their LDL-C target. The low use of combination LLT, unhealthy lifestyle, and social factors in the Gulf region were the main reasons for such poor control. Strategies are needed to achieve current guideline-recommended LDL-C targets.