Sex Differences in Statin Prescribing in Diabetic and Heart Disease Patients in FQHCs: A Comparison of the ATPIII and 2013 ACC/AHA Cholesterol Guidelines

Health Disparities: Statin Prescribing Patterns Among Patients with Diabetes in a Family Medicine Clinic

Purpose:

To analyze the impact of gender and race on statin prescribing patterns in patients with diabetes in a family medicine clinic.

Methods:

This study (n=192) was a single-center, cross-sectional study that examined statin prescribing patterns at a family medicine clinic. Patients were obtained from January 2015 to November 2018, who were considered eligible for statin therapy based on a documented diagnosis of diabetes. The patients were divided into four subgroups for analysis (white males, non-white males, white females, and non-white females).

Results:

Females were found to have higher rates of prescribed statin therapy and appropriate statin intensity therapy when compared to males (p>0.05). When evaluating gender and race, white females were more likely to be prescribed an appropriate statin when compared to non-white females (p<0.05).

Conclusion:

The study shows that although males had a significantly higher mean 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk score, they were less likely than females to receive the appropriate intensity statin. Previous studies have shown race and gender disparities exist in the prevention of cardiovascular disease. A more collective, unified approach to improve prescribing patterns for statin therapy can eliminate these disparities.

Clinical Pharmacist Outreach to Increase Statin Use for Patients with Cardiovascular Disease in a Safety-Net Healthcare System

BACKGROUND

Statin Therapy for Patients with Cardiovascular Disease (SPC) is a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Star measure added to Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage) plans in 2019 to incentivize statin use for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The measure assesses statin dispensing and adherence in patients with atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD). Clinical pharmacists are well-positioned to affect positively a health system's performance on the SPC measure.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effect of telephone outreach by clinical pharmacists on moderate- or high-intensity statin prescribing in patients with ASCVD.

METHODS

Patients in managed care health plans who meet the SPC measure criteria and are not currently receiving a moderate- to high-intensity statin therapy were contacted by a clinical pharmacist through telephone outreach. If appropriate, they were prescribed a statin by a clinical pharmacist. The primary outcome measure was the proportion of patients who meet the SPC measure classification and had 1 confirmed prescription fill for a moderate- or high-intensity statin after intervention by a clinical pharmacist.

RESULTS

A total of 84 patients were identified for review and outreach, of whom 35 (41.7%) met the SPC measure criteria. Of these 35 patients, 16 (45.7%) were female and the mean age was 66 years. A total of 22 (62.9%) patients agreed to a statin prescription, and 16 (72.7%) of these patients picked up the prescription within 10 days of prescribing. An additional 4 patients, for a total of 20 (57.1%) of the 35 eligible patients, were eventually dispensed a statin. Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) vendor data available after the intervention showed a larger SPC measure population than was captured with the health plan's internal report. HEDIS data showed an increase in statin prescribing for patients meeting the SPC measure classification from 24.7% to 56.6% during the study period (P <.001). The mean time spent per patient for chart review and/or outreach by the clinical pharmacist was 27.7 (standard deviation, 9) minutes.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that clinical pharmacists who conduct a telephonic population health intervention can achieve a high rate of success in initiating a moderate- to high-intensity statin therapy in patients with ASCVD.

Determinants of Statin Initiation Among Adult Diabetic Patients in Bonga, Ethiopia

BACKGROUND

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic degenerative disease associated with a high risk of chronic complications and comorbidities. According t the World Health Organization, 16.7 million people worldwide die of cardiovascular diseases each year.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of this study is to evaluate determinants of statin initiation among diabetic patients.

METHODS

A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate statin initiation and determinants in Gebre Tsadik Shewa General Hospital, Bonga, Ethiopia. This hospital covers a catchment population of about 1.4 million and offers diagnosis and treatment in outpatient and inpatient settings in different departments. Epi data 4.0.2.49 and STATA 14.2 were used for data entry and analysis. Before analysis, presence of co-linearity and model fitness were checked. Chi-square statistics were used to check adequacy of cells for binary logistic regression. Bivariate analysis was done and p <0.25 was included in a multivariate model. Finally p-value less than 0.05 was considered a significant predictor.

RESULTS

A total of 120 patients were included in this study, of which 77 (64.17%) were males. The mean age and standard deviation was 47.04 ± 12.13 years with 75% of patients ≥40 years. The mean duration of illness was 10.26 ± 0.6 years. Ninety-eight (81.67%) patients had varying comorbidities. Sixty-four (53.33%) patients developed complications. The majority of patients were evaluated by a general practitioner (GP). Fifty-one (42.5%) patients started statins. Of them, 31 (60.78%) started for secondary prevention. The majority of patients had atorvastatin with moderate dosage. Government insurance (p=0.029), polypharmacy (0.008), physician level of training (0.023) and previous counseling of patients about the importance of statins (p<001) were significantly associated with initiation of statins.

CONCLUSION

Only near to 40% of patients started statins. Physician reluctance and unavailability of drugs were the most common reasons not to initiate statins. The hospital tries to provide medication. Physicians should evaluate patients in need of cardio-protective drugs.