Current American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines recommend initiation or intensification of statin therapy to achieve low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goals after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS), yet little is known about the actual practice of intensifying lipid-lowering (LL) therapy and LDL-C achievement from hospital admission to 1-year follow-up.

The MAINTAIN registry enrolled ACS patients from January 2006 through September 2007, collecting data on statin formulation, dose, and lipid profiles at both baseline and 12 months. Statin intensity (estimated LDL-C lowering) was categorized by formulation and dose as either moderate (<40%) or intensive (≥40%). In-hospital LL intensification is described and LDL goal attainment is reported for patients with complete baseline and 12-month lipid panels.

Of the 788 patients without contraindications to LL, 40% were on LL therapy before admission, and 89% at discharge. Among patients on LL therapy with LDL-C >100 mg/dL at admission, only 37% (n = 38) had their LL therapy intensified. Among 382 patients with 12 months of data, 89% (n = 341) were discharged on a statin. Of these, 89% were still on a statin at 12-month follow-up. A LDL-C goal of ≤100 mg/dL was achieved in 71% of patients, but the optional LDL-C goal ≤70 mg/dL was achieved in only 31%.

Most high-risk ACS patients are prescribed statin therapy at hospital discharge and remain on therapy at 12-month follow-up. Despite this, the LDL-C goal of ≤70 mg/dL is achieved in a small minority. There is substantial opportunity to intensify LL therapy after ACS to achieve guideline LDL-C goals and prevent future morbidity and mortality.