Webb, Laura

Background: The 2013 ACC/AHA Cholesterol Guidelines departed from prior ATPIII guidelines, recommending statin treatment based on patients’ predicted 10-year ASCVD risk and de-emphasizing LDL-C targets. However, the degree to which these new guidelines have been adopted by clinicians in community practice is unknown. Methods: We surveyed 522 clinicians in 133 cardiology, primary care, and endocrinology practices participating in the Patient and Provider Assessment of Lipid Management (PALM) Registry. Clinicians were asked about their likelihood of prescribing statins in 4 hypothetical patient scenarios. Results: Among responders, 79% were physicians (60% cardiologists, 38% primary care or general practice, 2% endocrinology), 18% were advanced practice providers, and 3% trainees. When queried, 73% of providers reported primarily using the 2013 ACC/AHA Guidelines to guide lipid management. However, only half reported “often” or “always” calculating 10-year ASCVD risk to aid lipid management decisions for primary prevention. When presented with a high 10-year ASCVD risk patient (>15%) with a high LDL-C (150 mg/dL), 92% of providers recommended statins. Similarly, 83% of providers would use statins in a diabetic patient with a LDL-C of 140 mg/dL. Yet, only 37% reported they would prescribe a statin to an older adult (age 70) for whom guidelines recommend statin based on high 10-year ASCVD risk alone (10.1%). And up to 40% would prescribe a statin to a younger (age 40) with a low 10-year risk, but a high LDL (165 mg/dL) who would not otherwise meet criteria for statin therapy under the new guidelines. Cardiologists and non-cardiologists were similarly likely prescribe statins in most scenarios with the exception of to the younger patient with elevated LDL-C were cardiologists used statins more commonly (32% vs. 42%. OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.1-2.2, p=0.02). Conclusion: Initial survey results show that while most clinicians claim adoption of the 2013 ACC/AHA Guidelines, reported practices are not always adherent to these guidelines. Providers do not always calculate 10-year ASCVD risk to guide lipid management and many do not prescribe statins to patients eligible based on 10-year ASCVD risk.