Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 19, 2026

Intradermal Microdialysis: An Approach to Investigating Novel Mechanisms of Microvascular Dysfunction in Humans
08:21

Intradermal Microdialysis: An Approach to Investigating Novel Mechanisms of Microvascular Dysfunction in Humans

Published on: July 21, 2023

Is the high-risk strategy to prevent cardiovascular disease equitable? A pharmacoepidemiological cohort study

Helle Wallach-Kildemoes1, Finn Diderichsen, Allan Krasnik

  • 1Centre for Healthy Aging, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, Copenhagen, 1014, Denmark. hewk@sund.ku.dk

BMC Public Health
|August 7, 2012
PubMed

Insights

The high-risk strategy for preventing cardiovascular disease (CVD) with statins appears inequitable. Individuals in lower socioeconomic positions (SEP), who have higher CVD risk, are not adequately reached by this preventive therapy.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular disease prevention
  • Health equity research
  • Pharmacotherapy utilization

Background:

  • Statins are widely prescribed for cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention in asymptomatic individuals.
  • Concerns exist regarding equitable access to high-risk preventive strategies for those in lower socioeconomic positions (SEP).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the equity of statin therapy initiation across socioeconomic groups in Denmark for CVD prevention.
  • To determine if the high-risk strategy for CVD prevention is equitably implemented across socioeconomic strata.

Main Methods:

  • A nationwide cohort study of 3.3 million Danish citizens aged 20+ from 2002-2006.
  • Utilized register data on socio-demographics, prescriptions, and hospital discharges.
  • Assessed myocardial infarction (MI) incidence as a proxy for statin need and calculated need-standardized statin incidence rates by SEP.

Main Results:

  • Myocardial infarction (MI) incidence decreased with increasing socioeconomic position (SEP).
  • Statin therapy incidence did not parallel MI incidence trends across SEP groups.
  • Need-standardized statin incidence increased with income and education levels, indicating inequitable access.

Conclusions:

  • The high-risk strategy for initiating statin therapy for CVD prevention appears inequitable.
  • Higher socioeconomic groups disproportionately benefit from statin therapy compared to higher-risk lower socioeconomic groups.
Abstract

Related Concept Videos

Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches01:23

Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches

Biopharmaceutical studies constitute a vital field aiming to enhance drug delivery methods and refine therapeutic approaches, drawing upon diverse interdisciplinary knowledge. In research methodologies, the choice between controlled and non-controlled studies significantly influences the study's reliability and accuracy.
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast, controlled...
Atherosclerosis III: Management01:26

Atherosclerosis III: Management

Management of atherosclerosis involves an integrated strategy encompassing pharmacological treatment, surgical interventions, lifestyle changes, and nutrition therapy to address the multifactorial nature of the disease.Pharmacological TherapyA cornerstone of atherosclerosis management is the use of pharmacological agents. Statins, such as atorvastatin, are pivotal in inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme that catalyzes an initial step in cholesterol synthesis in the liver. This reduction in...
Coronary Artery Disease IV: Preventive Measures01:26

Coronary Artery Disease IV: Preventive Measures

Effective preventive measures for coronary artery disease (CAD) focus on controlling modifiable risk factors, including cholesterol abnormalities and lifestyle changes.Cholesterol ManagementFirst, the Mediterranean diet and the American Heart Association advocate for maintaining low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels below 100 mg/dL, with a more stringent recommendation of below 70 mg/dL for individuals at high risk. LDL cholesterol, often termed "bad cholesterol," can lead to the...
Bias in Epidemiological Studies01:29

Bias in Epidemiological Studies

Biases can arise at various stages of research, from study design and data collection to analysis and interpretation. Recognizing and addressing these biases is essential to ensure the validity and reliability of epidemiological findings.Broadly speaking, biases in epidemiology fall into three main categories: selection bias, information bias, and confounding. A more detailed description of possible biases is:
Study Designs in Epidemiology01:20

Study Designs in Epidemiology

Epidemiological study designs are fundamental tools for investigating the distribution, determinants, and control of health conditions in populations. They help researchers understand the relationships between exposures and outcomes, and they broadly fall into two categories: "observational" and "experimental" studies.
Observational studies are those where the researcher does not intervene but rather observes natural variations. They include cross-sectional, cohort, and case-control studies.
Bioavailability Study Design: Healthy Subjects Versus Patients01:15

Bioavailability Study Design: Healthy Subjects Versus Patients

Bioavailability studies are essential for evaluating a drug's therapeutic efficacy and understanding its absorption patterns under various physiological conditions. Conducting such studies on target patient populations provides more relevant data by simulating real-world disease states. However, practical challenges often necessitate the use of young, healthy adult volunteers as study subjects.Patients may exhibit altered drug absorption patterns due to the effects of the disease itself,...