High-Intensity Statins Underused With Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com.
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter
TUESDAY, Sept. 19, 2023 -- Among patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), high-intensity statins are underutilized in routine care, according to a study published online Aug. 2 in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
Ann Marie Navar, M.D., Ph.D., from University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, and colleagues examined use of statins and other lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) and changes in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) among patients with ASCVD. The analysis included electronic health record-derived data from outpatient visits for 322,153 patients with ASCVD (Cerner Real-World Data from 92 U.S. health systems 2017 through 2018).
The researchers found that 76.1 percent of patients were on statins, with only 39.4 percent on high-intensity statins. Compared with women, men were more likely to receive high-intensity statins (multivariable-adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.34). Lower odds of statin use were seen with increasing age (OR, 0.79 per five-year increase at 60 years). Compared with patients with coronary heart disease, patients with peripheral artery disease (OR, 0.40) and cerebrovascular disease (OR, 0.75) had lower odds of using high-intensity statins. Most patients (61.3 percent) at baseline had elevated LDL-C (≥70 mg/dL), including 59.8 percent of those on low/moderate-intensity statins and 76.1 percent on no statin. At one year, only 45.3 percent achieved an LDL-C <70 mg/dL. Nonstatin LLT use was low. Among patients on no statin or low/moderate-intensity statin at baseline, at one year, 14.8 and 13.4 percent, respectively, were on high-intensity statins.
"Concerted efforts are needed to address therapeutic inertia for lipid management in patients with ASCVD," the authors write.
Several authors disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical industry.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted September 2023
Read this next
Social Determinants of Health Tied to Atherosclerotic CVD Risk
WEDNESDAY, May 1, 2024 -- Both individual- and area-level social determinants of health (SDOH) are associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk, according...
Coronary Artery Vessel Wall Thickness Increased for People Living With HIV
TUESDAY, April 16, 2024 -- Asymptomatic people living with HIV (PLWH) with a low risk for cardiovascular disease have increased coronary artery vessel wall thickness (VWT)...
Silent Brain Infarct, Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Prevalent in Heart Disease
MONDAY, April 15, 2024 -- The prevalence of silent brain infarction (SBI) and cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is high among individuals with heart disease and is similar with...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.