Lipid-lowering therapy in outpatients of different ages with coronary artery disease

Aim. To conduct a pharmacoepidemiologic analysis of lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) in outpatients of different ages with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Material and methods. A total of 805 medical records of outpatients with CAD were analyzed in this pharmacoepidemiologic, cross-sectional study conducted at primary care facility of Moscow. The total sample of patients was divided into 3 age groups: group 1 — <65 years (n=267; 33,2%), group 2 — 65-74 years (n=305; 37,9%), group 3 — ≥75 years (n=233; 28,9%). Data on LLT (prescription rates, structure, intensity), prevalence of irrational drug combinations, lipid profile were collected. Statistical analysis was performed using SciPy 1.4.1, NumPy 1.18.4 for Python 3.73. Differences were considered significant at p<0,05.

Results. LLT prescription rates were equally high in all ages — 92,9%, 85,9%, and 81,6% in groups 1, 2, and 3 respectively (p>0,05). Dual LLT was prescribed rarely (4,9%, 3,9%, 0,9%, respectively), especially in patients ≥75 years (p<0,05 for groups 1 and 3, p»0,05 for groups 2 and 3). Atorvastatin prevailed in all ages (p>0,05); patients ≥75 received rosuvastatin less often (p<0,05 for groups 1 and 3); simvastatin was more frequently prescribed to patients ≥65 years (p<0,05 for groups 1 and 2, 1 and 3). Prescription rate of high-intensity LLT was higher in group 1 (57,3%) compared with group 2 (40,1%; p<0,05) and group 3 (30,0%; p<0,01). Prevalence of polypharmacy (50,2%, 56,5%, 60,4%) and irrational drug combinations (34,0%, 38,1%, 43,3%) was comparable in all groups (p>0,05), as well as the proportion of patients not achieved target LDL-C <1,8 mmol/l (72,9%, 73,9%, 84,3%; p>0,05).

Conclusion. The study demonstrated no significant influence of patient age on LLT prescription rates, LDL-C control, and prevalence of irrational drug combinations in outpatients with CAD. Rates of dual LLT, structure and intensity of statin therapies differed depending on age groups.

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