Hedgeman, Elizabeth

Background: Many patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) or diabetes mellitus (DM) do not receive guideline-recommended lipid lowering therapy (LLT). We characterized LLT treatment patterns and identified predictors of high intensity statin prescriptions (Rx) in patients with ASCVD and DM. Methods: Olmsted County, MN residents with DM or ASCVD (MI, unstable angina, revascularization, ischemic stroke/TIA) from 2005-2012 were followed for 2 years capturing all LDL-C and LLT Rx. Cox regression examined predictors of high intensity statin Rx, modeling LDL-C as a time-dependent variable. Results: 8408 patients with DM (n=4881) or ASCVD (n=3527) were identified (mean age 63.1, 55.1% male). Over 2 years, mean (SD) number of LDL-C measurements was 2.7 (1.9); 12.1% had none. Among those with ≥1 LDL-C, the first was ≥100 mg/dL in 46.2%. LLT Rx increased within 30 days after the first LDL-C. (Table). However, among those with LDL-C ≥100, 40.1% were not prescribed LLT; these patients were younger (mean age 56.9 vs 60.8), more likely female (52.7% vs 45.6%) and more likely to have DM vs ASCVD (84.5% vs 54.6%) than those prescribed LLT. High intensity statin Rx increased more for those with LDL-C ≥100 than those with LDL-C <100. Men [HR 1.29 (CI 1.13-1.48)] and patients with ASCVD vs DM [6.12 (5.25-7.12)] were more likely to be prescribed high intensity statins. Higher LDL-C was associated with greater high intensity statin Rx, although associations differed between ASCVD and DM (p-interaction=0.004). Compared to DM, ASCVD patients were more likely prescribed high intensity statins at every level of LDL-C [2.73 (1.70-4.37), 6.47 (4.94-8.47), 5.68 (4.45-7.25), and 7.88 (5.89-10.53) for LDL-C <70, 70-99, 100-130, and ≥130]. Conclusions: Although high intensity statin Rx increased in response to increasing LDL-C, a large proportion of patients do not receive guideline-concordant care. Efforts should be made to encourage more aggressive treatment of elevated LDL-C and to understand why treatment is neglected or delayed.