title: Use of margarine enriched in phytosterols by patients at high cardiovascular risk and treated by hypolipidemic drugs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The use of phytosterol-enriched margarines (PEM) in patients at cardiovascular risk has not been thoroughly explored. We determined the proportion of users of PEM in a population at high cardiovascular risk, and their characteristics. In addition, the correlates of using at least 25 g/d of PEM were identified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with at least two cardiovascular risk factors in addition to dyslipidemia (primary prevention) or with past cardiovascular disease (secondary prevention) were recruited by general practitioners (GPs). Baseline characteristics were collected from a computerized GP database linked to a survey. GPs recorded patterns of PEM use. First, users were compared with non-users. Then, analyses were conducted to identify characteristics of patients using PEM at a recommended dose (>or=25 g/d). Among 1631 patients with documented consumption, a minority used PEM (15.2%), and only 36.4% of consumers used it at recommended level. Overall, PEM users did not differ from non-users as to general characteristics, nor as to the level of cardiovascular risk in primary prevention. However, PEM users reported significantly more cardiovascular events among their parents (OR=1.4; 95% CI=[1.0-1.9]). Consumers who used at least 25 g/d of PEM were more likely to be men (OR=3.1; 95% CI=[1.6-5.8]), to be aged 60-74 (OR=3.0; 95% CI=[1.4-6.4]), or 75 or older (OR=4.0; 95% CI=[1.5-10.6]). Again, no difference was observed regarding the level of cardiovascular risk.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The level of use of PEM was low in this population of high cardiovascular risk patients. In addition, only a third of users consumed margarine at the recommended level. Our data suggest that pattern of use of PEM is not related to the level of cardiovascular risk.
authors.affiliation: Université de Lyon, Lyon, F-69003, Lyon 1 University, Pharmacoepidemiology, EA3091, France.
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Laforest
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moulin
authors.forename: Marie-Sophie
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Schwalm
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Le Jeunne
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chretin
authors.forename: Brice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kitio
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Massol
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Van Ganse
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006801:Humans; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008383:Margarine; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution
chemical_list: D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D010840:Phytosterols; D008383:Margarine