Why the study?
To identify whether participants with lower education are less likely to report taking statins for primary cardiovascular prevention than those with higher education, at an equivalent increase in underlying cardiovascular risk.
Does lower educational attainment reduce the likelihood of statin use for primary prevention in individuals with equivalent cardiovascular risk?
Does lower educational attainment reduce the likelihood of statin use for primary prevention in individuals with equivalent cardiovascular risk?
Individuals with lower educational attainment are less likely to use statins for primary prevention despite equivalent cardiovascular risk, highlighting a source of health inequality.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
May indicate education-based gaps in primary prevention statin use; leaves open causal mechanisms and intervention effects.
OBJECTIVE: Identify whether participants with lower education are less likely to report taking statins for primary cardiovascular prevention than those with higher education, but an equivalent increase in underlying cardiovascular risk. METHODS: Using data from a large prospective cohort study, UK Biobank, we calculated a QRISK3 cardiovascular risk score for 472 097 eligible participants with complete data on self-reported educational attainment and statin use (55% female participants; mean age 56 years). We used logistic regression to explore the association between (i) QRISK3 score and (ii) educational attainment on self-reported statin use. We then stratified the association between QRISK3 score and statin use, by educational attainment to test for interactions. RESULTS: There was evidence of an interaction between QRISK3 score and educational attainment. Per unit increase in QRISK3 score, more educated individuals were more likely to report taking statins. In women with ≤7 years of schooling, a one unit increase in QRISK3 score was associated with a 7% higher odds of statin use (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.07). In women with ≥20 years of schooling, a one unit increase in QRISK3 score was associated with an 14% higher odds of statin use (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.14 to 1.15). Comparable ORs in men were 1.04 (95% CI 1.04 to 1.05) for ≤7 years of schooling and 1.08 (95% CI 1.08, 1.08) for ≥20 years of schooling. CONCLUSION: Per unit increase in QRISK3 score, individuals with lower educational attainment were less likely to report using statins, likely contributing to health inequalities.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Carter et al. (2021) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 10 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: