Key result
Female sex linked to ~9% lower likelihood of statin initiation post-MI compared to males.
Why the study?
Sex differences in statin treatment after myocardial infarction are widely recognized, but differences in initiation across sexes, age groups, and calendar years needed assessment.
Are females less likely than males to initiate statin treatment after a first-time myocardial infarction?
Cohort (n=154,591)
Are females less likely than males to initiate statin treatment after a first-time myocardial infarction?
Relative Risk: 0.91 (95% CI 0.85–0.99)
Absolute Event Rate: 54% vs 72%
p-value: p=<.001
There is a persistent sex disparity in secondary prevention after myocardial infarction, with females being significantly less likely than males to be initiated on statin therapy.
Disparity in post-MI statin initiation by sex persists; confirms known gaps and leaves open targeted interventions.
INTRODUCTION: Sex differences in treatment with Statins after Myocardial Infarction (MI) are widely recognised. This study aimed to assess differences in statin treatment initiation after MI by sex, age groups, and year of MI. METHOD: We conducted a cohort study in Denmark using registries for patients with a first-time MI between 1st January 2000 and 31st December 2024, excluding patients already treated with lipid lowering drugs up to 180 days before their MI. Descriptive statistics and multivariable Poisson regression were used to explore the effect of sex on treatment initiation. RESULTS: A total of 154,591 patients were included in the study (37% females, median age 75 years for females and 65 years for men). Overall, 54% of females versus 72% of males had initiated statin treatment within 180 days (p < .001). For females ≥40 years, significantly lower proportions were found in every year interval (p < .001 for all). Within the age groups, the relative difference between the sexes increased from 2000-2002 until 2015-2019, whereafter a decrease was found from 2015-2019 to 2020-2024, except among 60-69-year-olds for whom the decrease began earlier, starting in 2010-2014. Females had a 25% lower relative risk (RR 0.75 [0.74;0.76]) of initiating treatment. These differences remained after adjusting for age groups and year interval (RR 0.87 [0.86;0.87]) and after further adjustment for baseline characteristics (RR 0.91 [0.85;99]). CONCLUSION: A smaller proportion of females received statins than males after a MI. Disparities in treatment persisted over the years.
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Andersen et al. (2026) conducted a cohort in Myocardial Infarction (n=154,591). Female sex vs. Male sex was evaluated on statin treatment initiation within 180 days (RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.85-0.99, p=<.001). Female sex was associated with a significantly lower likelihood of initiating statin treatment within 180 days after a first-time myocardial infarction compared to males (54% vs 72%; adjusted RR 0.91).