What question did this study set out to answer?

To examine trends in lipid-lowering drug prescribing in the UK from 1994 to 2001 and identify patient factors that influence statin treatment.

March 14, 2003HeartOpen Access

Evolution of statin prescribing 1994–2001: a case of agism but not of sexism?

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To examine trends in lipid-lowering drug prescribing in the UK from 1994 to 2001 and identify patient factors that influence statin treatment.
Analysed computerized medical records from 142 general practices across England and Wales using the Doctors' Independent Network database.
Evaluated annual cohorts averaging over 30,000 patients aged 35 years or older with treated ischaemic heart disease between 1994 and 2001.
Assessed prescribing trends, daily statin dosages, and odds ratios (ORs) for receiving a statin prescription in 1998.
Lipid-lowering drug prescribing grew markedly, reaching 56.3% of men and 41.1% of women with ischaemic heart disease by 2001, though 33% received a low daily dose equivalent to < 20 mg simvastatin.
Likelihood of receiving a statin dropped substantially with older age in 1998 (OR 0.64 for ages 65–74; OR 0.16 for ages 75–84 compared to ages 55–64), an effect persisting in patients without major comorbidity.
Revascularised patients were more likely to receive statins than patients with angina (OR 3.92, 95% CI 3.57 to 4.31), while an unadjusted prescribing advantage for men (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.54 to 1.71) attenuated after adjusting for age and disease severity (OR 1.06).

Structured PICO

Population

People aged 35 years or more with treated ischaemic heart disease, averaging annually over 30,000, from 142 general practices across England and Wales.

Intervention

Lipid lowering drugs (statins)

Outcome

Temporal trend from 1994 to 2001 in prescription of lipid lowering drugs and daily statin dose, and odds ratios for receiving a statin prescription in 1998

Despite increases in statin prescribing for ischemic heart disease from 1994 to 2001, significant undertreatment persisted, particularly among the elderly and those with angina compared to revascularized patients.

Discussion

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Implication

Age-related statin undertreatment in IHD warrants contemporary audit; leaves open whether disparities have narrowed since 2001.

Cite This Study

Stephen DeWilde (2003) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a82ba40d38da709b0133af1 https://doi.org/10.1136/heart.89.4.417

Topics

Statin therapy Women and heart disease

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Evolution of statin prescribing 1994–2001: a case of agism but not of sexism?

Key Points

Structured PICO

Discussion

Implication

Cite This Study

Topics

Evolution of statin prescribing 1994–2001: a case of agism but not of sexism?

Key Points

Structured PICO

Discussion

Implication

Cite This Study

Also Consider

Topics

Also Consider