Lukas Geary1,2,3, Jonas Aronius1,4, Björn Wettermark4,5, Jan Hasselström6,7, Bengt Sjöborg1, Mia von Euler1,2,5,8,9. 1. Karolinska Institutet Stroke Research Network at Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden. 2. Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institutet, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden. 3. Unit of Medicine, Capio S:t Görans Sjukhus, Stockholm, Sweden. 4. Public Healthcare Services Committee, Department of Healthcare development, Stockholm County Council, Stockholm, Sweden. 5. Centre for Pharmacoepidemiology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. 6. Section of Family Medicine, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. 7. Academic Primary Care Centre, Stockholm County Council, Stockholm, Sweden. 8. Section of Neurology, Department of Internal Medicine, Södersjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden. 9. Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To analyse if there are sociodemographic differences in the utilisation of statins 9-12 months after ischaemic stroke or transitory ischaemic attack. METHODS: Anonymised linkage of registry data on all patients >18 years discharged from the hospitals in Stockholm, Sweden 2006-2010 with diagnosis of ischaemic stroke (ICD-10: I63.0-9) or TIA (ICD-10: G45.9) was performed. Data on hospitalisations and diagnoses were collected from the Stockholm County Council administrative databases on healthcare consumption. Dispensed prescriptions with statins and, for comparative purposes, antihypertensive agents 9-12 months after discharge were acquired from the National Swedish Prescribed Drug Register. Data about socioeconomic factors were obtained from Statistics Sweden. The dispensing of statins and antihypertensive agents, relative to sociodemographic variables were analysed. Using logistic regression odds ratios, crude, and adjusted with education, income, origin of birth, age, and sex as predictors where calculated. RESULTS: Of 24 312 patients with ischaemic stroke/TIA, 19 335 were alive 12 months after discharge. Statins were dispensed to 44% of all patients in the cohort, more frequently to men of all age groups, to patients with higher education, and to those with higher income. Antihypertensive agents were dispensed to 68% of all patients and there were no differences related to sex and income whilst patients with lower education were dispensed with antihypertensives more frequently. CONCLUSION: We find a low utilisation of statins one year after ischaemic stroke/TIA. Patients with low education, low income, and female sex were dispensed fewer prescriptions of statins indicating a need for improvement.
OBJECTIVES: To analyse if there are sociodemographic differences in the utilisation of statins 9-12 months after ischaemic stroke or transitory ischaemic attack. METHODS: Anonymised linkage of registry data on all patients >18 years discharged from the hospitals in Stockholm, Sweden 2006-2010 with diagnosis of ischaemic stroke (ICD-10: I63.0-9) or TIA (ICD-10: G45.9) was performed. Data on hospitalisations and diagnoses were collected from the Stockholm County Council administrative databases on healthcare consumption. Dispensed prescriptions with statins and, for comparative purposes, antihypertensive agents 9-12 months after discharge were acquired from the National Swedish Prescribed Drug Register. Data about socioeconomic factors were obtained from Statistics Sweden. The dispensing of statins and antihypertensive agents, relative to sociodemographic variables were analysed. Using logistic regression odds ratios, crude, and adjusted with education, income, origin of birth, age, and sex as predictors where calculated. RESULTS: Of 24 312 patients with ischaemic stroke/TIA, 19 335 were alive 12 months after discharge. Statins were dispensed to 44% of all patients in the cohort, more frequently to men of all age groups, to patients with higher education, and to those with higher income. Antihypertensive agents were dispensed to 68% of all patients and there were no differences related to sex and income whilst patients with lower education were dispensed with antihypertensives more frequently. CONCLUSION: We find a low utilisation of statins one year after ischaemic stroke/TIA. Patients with low education, low income, and female sex were dispensed fewer prescriptions of statins indicating a need for improvement.