Disparities in the prevalence of medication therapy for hyperlipidemia in the elderly

To explore differences in the prevalence of therapy with antihyperlipidemic drugs in patients older than 75 years of age, as compared with patients between the ages of 55 to 74, and other variables.

A cross-sectional study.

Two Oklahoma state-paid pharmacy drug-claims databases.

The first database contained 69,119 eligible patients 55 years of age and older. The second database contained 82,360 eligible patients 55 years of age and older.

Comparison of the prevalence of therapy with antihyperlipidemic drugs in those 55 to 74 years of age with those older than 75 years of age in the data sets, and evaluation of the effect of gender, race, place of residence, and socioeconomic status.

In the combined data sets, the group 55 to 74 years of age had a higher prevalence of therapy with antihyperlipidemics than those 75 years of age or older. Men had a higher prevalence of therapy than women, and those in higher socioeconomic status had a higher prevalence, but only in the group 75 years of age or older. Caucasians had a prevalence of therapy greater than African-Americans, but only in the group 55 to 74 years of age or older.

We found that older people were prescribed therapy less frequently than younger people, that women were prescribed therapy less frequently than men, that Caucasians were prescribed therapy more frequently than African-Americans, and that those living in a nursing facility were prescribed therapy less frequently than those living in other settings. Regarding socioeconomic status, only in the younger age group was lower status associated with lower prevalence of prescribed therapy.