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Are high coronary risk patients missing out on lipid-lowering drugs in Australia?

Leon A Simons1, Eric Chung2

  • 1Lipid Research Department, University of New South Wales and St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia. l.simons@unsw.edu.au.

The Medical Journal of Australia
|August 29, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Many high coronary risk patients in Australia are appropriately prescribed lipid-lowering drugs (LLD). However, a significant number, particularly younger and older individuals, are not receiving these vital medications.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Pharmacoeconomics
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Australia has high international rates of lipid-lowering drug (LLD) use.
  • Understanding LLD prescription patterns in high-risk populations is crucial for cardiovascular disease prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if Australian patients at high coronary risk are receiving LLD.
  • To identify patterns in LLD prescription among different risk groups and age demographics.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme pharmacy claims data (2006-2013) for a 10% sample of Australian concession card holders.
  • Utilized co-prescriptions for antiplatelet, anti-anginal, diabetes, and hypertension medications as indicators of high coronary risk.
  • Calculated the proportion of high-risk patients not receiving LLD (statins, fibrates, ezetimibe).

Main Results:

  • Over 276,000 high coronary risk patients were analyzed; 42% did not receive LLD.
  • Patients with combined coronary heart disease (CHD), diabetes, and hypertension had the lowest non-prescription rate (8%).
  • Non-prescription rates were highest in the youngest (<41 years) and oldest (≥81 years) age groups.

Conclusions:

  • A substantial proportion of high coronary risk patients, particularly those with multiple risk factors like CHD, diabetes, and hypertension, are appropriately prescribed LLD in Australia.
  • Opportunities exist to improve LLD prescribing in specific age demographics and patient profiles.
  • Findings highlight the importance of ongoing monitoring of LLD utilization in high-risk cardiovascular populations.
Abstract

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