scotPHO introduction:
  High Blood Pressure
  High Cholesterol
  Key points
  Introduction
  Risk factors
Policy context
  Data
  Key data sources
  Key references
  Useful links
  Obesity
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High cholesterol: policy context

Most policy in the NHS in Scotland refers to diseases and services. There is no specific policy on high cholesterol as such, but there is a strategy on coronary heart disease and stroke. See the Strategy for CHD and stroke in Scotland. This recognises raised cholesterol as a risk factor and recommends its identification in the population and appropriate management and treatment.

In terms of policy relating to cholesterol in particular, there are targets for general practice in relation to managing raised cholesterol in people with known cardiovascular disease and diabetes. See the GMS Contract Quality and Outcomes Framework targets for cholesterol for a snapshot of the general UK targets.  For more detail for Scotland, see the Quality and Outcomes Framework - Guidance updated August 2004, and the subsequent Revision to the GMS contract 2006/07 - Delivering Investment in General Practice - Scottish Guidance.

In addition, policy regarding clinical intervention in high cholesterol is described in SIGN (Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network) Guideline 97 'Risk estimation and the prevention of cardiovascular disease' (February 2007).