HEALTH NEWS

Study Title:

Statin Use Causes Faster Onset of Coronary Events

Study Abstract

This observational retrospective study analysed the association of adherence to statins with the achievement of a target total cholesterol level (CL, <200mg/dl), and any association of adherence with the time to first hospital admission for coronary event in hypercholesterolemic patients treated with statins, in one Italian Local Health Authority between 1998-2003. The study population consisted of 3,516 patients who were prescribed statins and for whom full cholesterol results were available. After three months of treatment, there were significant reductions in CL (p<0.001) in the three treatment groups stratified by adherence (good adherents -24%, poor adherents -22%, and non-adherents -14%). Patients more likely to achieve the target CL were older, male and more adherent to the statins. The risk of first hospitalization was associated positively with increased age and male gender. Patients with co-treatments were more likely to be hospitalized. Surprisingly, better adherence to statin treatment increased the risk of hospitalization.

Study Information

Deambrosis P, Terrazzani G, Walley T, Bader G, Giusti P, Debetto P, Chinellato A.
Benefit of statins in daily practice? A six-year retrospective observational study.
Pharmacol Res.
2009 June
Pharmaceutical Service, Local Health Authority (ULSS No. 9), Treviso, Italy; Department of Pharmacology & Anaesthesiology, University of Padova, Italy.