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[Use of statins in hospitals after myocardial infarction]
A T Notø1, L Steffensen, A Nordøy
1Medisinsk avdeling Regionsykehuset i Tromsø 9038 Tromsø.
Insights
Statin prescription increased significantly for acute myocardial infarction patients from 1995-1998. However, achieving cholesterol-lowering goals remains unsatisfactory, indicating a need for improved therapeutic intensity.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
- Public Health
Context:
- Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) management requires timely statin initiation.
- Assessing statin prescription rates and treatment intensity post-AMI is crucial for guideline adherence.
Purpose:
- To determine the frequency of statin prescription during initial hospitalization for AMI.
- To evaluate the therapeutic intensity of statin treatment at follow-up in AMI patients.
Summary:
- A retrospective study analyzed 473 AMI patients (1995-1998). Statin prescription at discharge rose from 42% to 91% for high-cholesterol patients.
- While statin use increased, only 54% of users met treatment goals within 12 weeks, highlighting suboptimal therapeutic intensity.
Impact:
- The study shows a positive trend in statin initiation for AMI survivors.
- Findings underscore the need to enhance statin therapy intensity to meet clinical guidelines and improve patient outcomes.
Background:
The objective of this study was to register the frequency of statin prescription during the initial hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction and therapeutic intensity at follow-up.
Material And Methods:
A retrospective study among patients aged below 70 of both sexes with acute myocardial infarction, who survived the initial hospitalization at the University Hospital of Tromsø during 1995-1998.
Results:
473 patients with acute myocardial infarction, 76% men, mean age 57.4 (range 33-70 yrs) were included. Statin treatment was started in 55% of the patients within discharge from the hospital. Total cholesterol (odds ratio 0.51, 0.41-0.64; 95% CI) and decreasing age (1.60, 1.21-2.10) were significant predictors for statin prescription. Statin treatment started during hospitalization increased gradually from 42% in 1995 to 91% in 1998 (p < 0.001) among patients with total cholesterol above 5.0 mmol/l at admission. 54% of the statin users achieved the treatment goal at their first outpatient control 8-12 weeks after discharge.
Interpretation:
The proportion of statin users has increased satisfactory during 1995-98, but the therapeutic intensity is unsatisfactory compared to guidelines for cholesterol-lowering treatment of patients with acute myocardial infarction.
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