Sex, ethnicity and language differences in statin prescribing in community health center patients

Statins have been shown to reduce atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). In the United States, statins are underutilized, and the literature suggests women and Latine individuals received even fewer prescriptions than men even when eligible. No study has shown how statins are prescribed when looking at language, ethnicity, and considering sex.

Data were analyzed from a multistate EHR network across the US from 2014 to 2020. We included patients aged 40+ that were non-Hispanic White, English speaking Latine, and Spanish speaking Latine and further disaggregated by sex with the aim to examine statin prescription prevalence and rates between groups. GEE logistic and negative binomial regression models were used determine the outcomes adjusted by appropriate covariates.

We found compared to non-Hispanic White men, only Spanish speaking Latinos had higher odds of receiving a statin prescription, but once one statin was prescribed, non-Hispanic White women were the only group with higher rates. We found a higher percent of Spanish speaking Latine patients regardless of sex had a statin prescription. Prevalence of having a statin prescription was 59.3 % and 59.7 % for Spanish speaking Latinos and Latinas respectively compared to 55.5 % 57.0 % for non-Hispanic White men and women respectively.

Overall, we found ethnicity, language, and sex differences. Clinicians in CHCs play an important role in the process to eliminate the sex gap in preventive health. The attention to statin prescribing in Spanish speaking Latine patients indicates more conscious care is being implemented in these vulnerable populations.