Background
: Hypercholesterolemia is a well known risk factor of coronary heart disease. In Korea, coronary heart disease is increasing according to the change of dietary patterns and other causes such as economic growth. In order to make more appropriated our therapeutic guidelines and to analyse about characteristics of patients with hyperlipidemia, we carried out this study.

Methods : We examed therapeutic compliance and results according to therapeutic methods and change of serum lipid levels after termination of treatment to 58 hyperlipidemias who were diagnosed and treated due to hyperlipidemia. This 58 hyperlipidemic patients were visited family medicine out-patient department at Seoul Christian General Hospital during period from Sep.1.1991 to Aug. 31. 1992.

Results : Among patients with hyperlipidemia, only 29.3% terminated their treatment, and only 58.6% had follow-up checks. The incidence of termination of treatment was higher in the group using lipid-lowing medication than in groups not using lipid-lowing medication than in groups not rsing lipid-lowing drugs. The duration of treatment was shorter in the group using lipid-lowing medication than in groups not using lipid-lowing drugs. After treatment, mean serum levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride decreased regardless of therpeutic methods. Mean serum levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride after termination of treatment increased, and the increase in total cholesterol level was statistically significant.

Conclusion : The compliance and self recognition of hyperlipidemic patients about their disease were very low and life styles and dietary patterns were not maintained after termination of the treatment. Therefore, it is necessary to educate and propagate our people about the significances of complications caused by hyperlipidemia at National Health Provoking level, because it may cause significant public health problems.