Go AS et al. – In this study, the authors examined the use and adherence of newly initiated statin therapy based on data from dispensed prescriptions from outpatient pharmacy databases in non–diabetic adults with cardiovascular risk factors. The results of the study identified a few patient subgroups that benefit from interventions to improve adherence to medication, especially by reducing gaps in treatment and discontinuation of statin therapy within the first year of treatment. However, there are opportunities for improving prevention in patients who are at a risk of cardiovascular events.

Methods

• Of the total 209,704 eligible patients, 32.5% initiated statin therapy during the follow–up period, and 90.4% received low–potency statins.

Results

• Following statin initiation, 84.3% and 80.2% actively received statin therapy at 12 and 24 months, respectively.
• Of these, only 42% and 30% did not have any gaps in treatment during these time periods.
• During follow–up, minimal switching between statins or use of other lipid–lowering therapies for augmentation was reported.
• Higher adjusted odds of active statin treatment at 12 months following initiation was associated with age ≥50 years, Asian/Pacific Islander race, Hispanic ethnicity, prior myocardial infarction, prior ischemic stroke, hypertension, and baseline low–density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL–C) >100 mg/dL.
• On the other hand, lower adjusted odds of active statin treatment at 12 months after initiation were associated with female gender, black race, current smoking, and dementia.