How we know if we're succeeding

Measuring ourselves: cholesterol management in coronary artery disease

The basic facts

• LDL is called the “bad cholesterol,” because it can stick to the walls of arteries and lead to a build-up of fatty plaque
• Lowering LDL cholesterol can prevent heart attacks and reduce death in men and women who have coronary artery disease and high cholesterol
• High cholesterol can be successfully treated
• For people with known heart disease, national guidelines recommend lowering LDL cholesterol (the “bad” cholesterol) to less than 100 mg/dL

Our mission is to help our patients with coronary artery disease lower their LDL cholesterol levels. This is best done through lifestyle changes (diet, exercise) and medications.

We measure the percent of our patients with coronary artery disease who have achieved a desirable LDL level below 100 mg/dL.

In 2006, 73% of our patients with coronary artery disease had an LDL level of less than 100 mg/dL, exceeding our goal of 65%. Since this initiative began, we have seen an increase each year in the number of patients at this desirable LDL level.

N = number of patients in measurement

Aurora's efforts in lowering patients' LDL cholesterol received national recognition from the American Medical Group Association.

For more information on cholesterol management for people with heart disease, click here.