Community-based provision of statin and aspirin after the detection of coronary artery calcium within a community-based screening cohort.
OBJECTIVE
We examined the association of coronary artery calcium (CAC) detected on a screening exam with subsequent statin and aspirin usage in a healthy male screening cohort.


BACKGROUND
Whether the presence of CAC, an independent predictor of coronary heart disease outcomes, alters clinical management, such as the use of preventive medications, is unknown.


METHODS
Men (n = 1,640) ages 40 to 50 years (mean 42 years) were screened for coronary heart disease risk factors and CAC. The CAC scores and risk factors were reported to patients, and results were made available in the electronic medical record; however, medications were not prescribed or recommended by the study. During up to 6 years of subsequent annual structured telephone follow-up, we observed the community-based initiation and persistence of aspirin and statin therapy.


RESULTS
A progressive increase in the incidence of pharmacotherapy was noted over time such that those with CAC were 3 times more likely to receive a statin (48.5% vs. 15.5%, p < 0.001) and also significantly more likely to receive aspirin (53.0% vs. 32.3%; p < 0.001) than those without CAC. In multivariable models controlling for National Cholesterol Education Program risk variables and baseline medication use, CAC was strongly and independently associated with use of either statin (odds ratio [OR] 3.53; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.66 to 4.69), aspirin (OR 3.05; 95% CI 2.30 to 4.05) or both (OR 6.97; 95% CI 4.81 to 10.10).


CONCLUSIONS
In this prospective cohort, the presence of coronary calcification was associated with an independent 3-fold greater likelihood of statin and aspirin usage.
Taylor
Allen J
AJ
Department of Medicine, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC 20307-5001, USA. allen.taylor@na.amedd.army.mil
Bindeman
Jody
J
Feuerstein
Irwin
I
Le
Toan
T
Bauer
Kelly
K
Byrd
Carole
C
Wu
Holly
H
O'Malley
Patrick G
PG
D000328:Adult; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011314:Preventive Health Services; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013689:Telephone
D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D001241:Aspirin