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Differential Effects of Lipid-lowering Drugs in Modulating Morphology of Cholesterol Particles
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Utilization and adherence to guideline-recommended lipid-lowering therapy at an academic medical center

Khalid A Alburikan1, Rayah M Asiri, Abduallah M Alhammad

  • 1Dr. Khalid A. Alburikan, College of Pharmacy,, King Saud University,, Riyadh 11349,, Saudi Arabia, T. +966 11 4677490 F: +966 11 4678847, kalburikan@ksu.edu.sa, ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4380-3327.

Annals of Saudi Medicine
|August 2, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Nearly one-third of high-risk patients received inappropriate statin therapy intensity, indicating a need for better adherence to 2013 cholesterol guidelines. Optimizing statin use can improve cardiovascular care.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Pharmacology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Clinical guidelines for managing blood cholesterol were updated in November 2013.
  • The 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guideline provides recommendations for statin therapy in high-risk patients.
  • Assessing adherence to these guidelines is crucial for effective patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate adherence to the 2013 ACC/AHA guideline recommendations for statin therapy.
  • To assess the intensity of statin therapy prescribed to high-risk patients.
  • To identify potential gaps in guideline implementation.

Main Methods:

  • A single-center, retrospective, observational study was conducted.
  • Data were collected from consecutive adult patients discharged with statin prescriptions between June 1, 2015, and December 31, 2015.
  • Adherence was measured against the 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines for cholesterol management in high-risk individuals.

Main Results:

  • Of 753 eligible patients, 53.5% had atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases and 29.2% had diabetes.
  • 27.6% of patients received statin therapy at an inappropriate intensity, with 16.7% receiving less than the ideal intensity.
  • Guideline adherence varied across different risk profiles.

Conclusions:

  • Approximately one-third of high-risk patients were prescribed statin therapy at an inappropriate intensity.
  • Wider application of the 2013 ACC/AHA cholesterol guidelines could optimize statin therapy utilization.
  • Further studies should consider factors like drug-drug interactions and intolerance in adherence evaluations.
Abstract

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