Lipid-Lowering Prescription Patterns in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus or Cardiovascular Disease.

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study is to describe lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) prescriptions and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) monitoring in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) with or without concomitant cardiovascular disease (CVD). Olmsted County, Minnesota residents with a first-ever diagnosis of DM or CVD (ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack, myocardial infarction, unstable angina pectoris, or revascularization procedure) between 2005 and 2012 were classified as having DM only, CVD only, or CVD?+?DM. All LLT prescriptions and LDL-C measurements were obtained for 2 years after diagnosis. A total of 4,186, 2,368, and 724 patients had DM, CVD, and CVD?+?DM, respectively. Rates of LDL-C measurement were 1.31, 1.66, and 1.88 per person-year and 14%, 32%, and 42% of LDL-C measurements were <70 mg/dl in those with DM, CVD, and CVD?+?DM. Within 3 months after diagnosis, 47%, 71%, and 78% of patients with DM, CVD, and CVD?+?DM were prescribed LLT. Most prescriptions were for moderate-intensity statins. Under one-fifth of patients with CVD and CVD?+?DM were prescribed high-intensity statins. Predictors of high-intensity statin prescriptions included male sex, having CVD or CVD?+?DM, increasing LDL-C, and LDL-C measured more recently (2012 to 2014 vs before 2012). In conclusion, a large proportion of patients at high CVD risk are not adequately treated with LLT. Despite often being considered a risk equivalent, patients with DM have substantially lower rates of LLT prescriptions and lesser controlled LDL-C than those with CVD or CVD?+?DM.

SUBMITTER: Chamberlain AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6744976 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature