Patterns of statin use and long‐term adherence and persistence among older adults with diabetes

Abstract

Statin use has increased among older adults with diabetes. However, adherence is low and discontinuation is high. Further investigations into the factors associated with non-adherence or discontinuation of statins are important so as to optimize statin use towards achieving the intended cardiovascular benefits among older people with diabetes.

Statin prescription among patients with type 2 diabetes in Botswana: findings and implications

“…Whilst the proportion of patients with diabetes who are prescribed statins varies substantially worldwide; there is a low prescribing of statins both in developing and developed countries [18,19,[21][22][23][48][49][50][51]. Encouragingly, the percentage of patients with diabetes who received statins (45.5%) in our study appears appreciably higher than the 3-13% seen in some African countries and consistent with findings from developed countries where between 25 to 73% of patients with diabetes are prescribed statins [18,19,22,[48][49][50]. The proportion of statin prescription in this population is higher than has been reported in some developed countries, including Germany (25%) and the United Kingdom (33%) [18,48].…”

Statin prescription among patients with type 2 diabetes in Botswana: findings and implications

“…The under-prescription of statins in this population is a concern since the use of statins appreciably reduces cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes irrespective of their LDL-C levels [7,[9][10][11][12][13]. Whilst the proportion of patients with diabetes who are prescribed statins varies substantially worldwide; there is a low prescribing of statins both in developing and developed countries [18,19,[21][22][23][49][50][51][52]. Encouragingly, the percentage of patients with diabetes who received statins (45.5%) in our study appears appreciably higher than the 3-13% seen in some African countries and consistent with findings from developed countries where between 25% to 73% of patients with diabetes are prescribed statins [18,19,22,[49][50][51].…”

“…Whilst the proportion of patients with diabetes who are prescribed statins varies substantially worldwide; there is a low prescribing of statins both in developing and developed countries [18,19,[21][22][23][49][50][51][52]. Encouragingly, the percentage of patients with diabetes who received statins (45.5%) in our study appears appreciably higher than the 3-13% seen in some African countries and consistent with findings from developed countries where between 25% to 73% of patients with diabetes are prescribed statins [18,19,22,[49][50][51]. The proportion of statin prescription in this population is higher than has been reported in some developed countries, including Germany (25%) and the United Kingdom (33%) [18,49].…”

Adherence and diabetes

“…So‐called statin intolerance may be a factor, brought about, in part, by patient beliefs about side effects, both varying to a large degree from country to country and tracking with each other . Although statin prescribing has increased considerably over the years, persistence levels are relatively low, around 60% in South Korea, 55% in Denmark after 3–5 years, and, in the study of Ofori‐Asenso et al in the current issue of the Journal of Diabetes , decreasing from 54% at 6 months to 37% at 9 years.…”

“…In the current issue of the Journal of Diabetes , Ofori‐Asenso et al analyze adherence to statins among adults aged ≥65 years in a dataset including 10% of the Australian population. Why is adherence so important and, when all is said and done, so poorly addressed in the treatment of diabetes?…”