Joseph E Blais1, Esther W Chan2, Sharon W Y Law3, Michael T Mok4, Duo Huang5, Ian C K Wong6, Chung-Wah Siu5. 1. Centre for Safe Medication Practice and Research, Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. 2. Centre for Safe Medication Practice and Research, Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Electronic address: ewchan@hku.hk. 3. Centre for Safe Medication Practice and Research, Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Department of Pharmacy, Tuen Mun Hospital, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. 4. Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Geelong and Deakin University, Victoria, Australia. 5. Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. 6. Centre for Safe Medication Practice and Research, Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Research Department of Practice and Policy, UCL School of Pharmacy, London, United Kingdom.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Clinical practice guidelines recommend specific statin doses for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Little is known about how statin utilization and dosing have evolved over time in Hong Kong. The aim of this study was to describe trends in statin prevalence, initiation, and dosing from 2004 to 2015. METHODS: Patients receiving public health services, who were prescribed a statin, were included if they received a lipid test at a single center (n = 58,672). Using the territory-wide electronic health record, prescribed daily statin dose, nondaily dose frequency, and statin dose intensity were determined for statin prescriptions from 2004 to 2015. Statin prescription prevalence and initiation rates were estimated using the appropriate at-risk population in the hospital catchment area as the denominator. Prescribed daily doses were stratified by primary or secondary cardiovascular prevention status to assess changes in statin dosing over time. RESULTS: The prescription prevalence of statins was higher in 2015 (8.68%; 95% CI, 8.60%-8.75%) as compared with 2004 (1.82%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.78%-1.86%). Initiation rates for new statin users increased from 2004 to 2013. High-intensity statins were infrequently prescribed. New users generally had higher statin initiation rates for primary prevention. There were small increases in the prescribed daily doses of statins. Nondaily statin dosing was infrequent (0.42% of all prescriptions). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence and initiation of statin prescriptions increased in Hong Kong, and was in part driven by low-intensity statins for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Clinical practice guidelines recommend specific statin doses for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Little is known about how statin utilization and dosing have evolved over time in Hong Kong. The aim of this study was to describe trends in statin prevalence, initiation, and dosing from 2004 to 2015. METHODS:Patients receiving public health services, who were prescribed a statin, were included if they received a lipid test at a single center (n = 58,672). Using the territory-wide electronic health record, prescribed daily statin dose, nondaily dose frequency, and statin dose intensity were determined for statin prescriptions from 2004 to 2015. Statin prescription prevalence and initiation rates were estimated using the appropriate at-risk population in the hospital catchment area as the denominator. Prescribed daily doses were stratified by primary or secondary cardiovascular prevention status to assess changes in statin dosing over time. RESULTS: The prescription prevalence of statins was higher in 2015 (8.68%; 95% CI, 8.60%-8.75%) as compared with 2004 (1.82%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.78%-1.86%). Initiation rates for new statin users increased from 2004 to 2013. High-intensity statins were infrequently prescribed. New users generally had higher statin initiation rates for primary prevention. There were small increases in the prescribed daily doses of statins. Nondaily statin dosing was infrequent (0.42% of all prescriptions). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence and initiation of statin prescriptions increased in Hong Kong, and was in part driven by low-intensity statins for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease.
Authors: Ji Bak Kim; Woo Hyuk Song; Jong Sung Park; Tae-Jin Youn; Yong Hyun Park; Shin-Jae Kim; Sung Gyun Ahn; Joon-Hyung Doh; Yun-Hyeong Cho; Jin Won Kim Journal: PLoS One Date: 2021-01-22 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Stephen Franklin Weng; Ralph Kwame Akyea; Kenneth Kc Man; Wallis C Y Lau; Barbara Iyen; Joseph Edgar Blais; Esther W Chan; Chung Wah Siu; Nadeem Qureshi; Ian C K Wong; Joe Kai Journal: PLoS One Date: 2021-12-02 Impact factor: 3.240