Statin Prescription for Patients With Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease from National Survey Data

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Public Health
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Strong evidence supports statin use for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).
• However, statin prescription rates for eligible patients remain suboptimal.
• Understanding factors influencing statin prescription is crucial for improving cardiovascular care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the rates of statin prescription in patients with clinical ASCVD.
• To identify factors influencing statin prescription in this population.
• To analyze disparities in statin prescribing.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional retrospective study using national survey data (2011-2015).
• Included 8,468 patients with clinical ASCVD from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey.
• Survey-weighted analysis, including multivariable regression, was used to estimate prevalence and odds ratios for statin prescription.

Main Results:

• Statin prescription rates significantly increased from 2011 to 2015.
• Overall, only 52% of ASCVD patients received a statin (55.4% with coronary heart disease, 37.7% with non-coronary heart disease).
• Males had higher odds of statin prescription in coronary heart disease patients. Black non-Hispanics had 31% lower odds compared to White non-Hispanics. Patients seen by non-physicians were 80% less likely to receive statins.

Conclusions:

• Significant disparities in statin prescription exist for ASCVD patients, particularly among minority groups.
• Healthcare delivery variations contribute to suboptimal statin use.
• Efforts are needed to ensure equitable statin prescribing for all ASCVD patients.