Shift of statin use towards the elderly in 1995-2005: a nation-wide register study in Finland.
OBJECTIVE
To describe nation-wide secular trends in statin use.


METHODS
Reimbursed prescriptions for lipid lowering drugs between 1995 and 2005 in Finland were retrieved from the nation-wide Prescription Register. The 1 year prevalence and incidence of statin use stratified by gender and age of users were measured for each calendar year. The relative changes (RR) in the incidence and the prevalence were calculated by using the year 1995 as a reference.


RESULTS
The 1 year prevalence increased 11-fold (95% confidence interval 11.2, 11.5), i.e. from 7.8 per 1000 inhabitants in 1995 to 88.9 in 2005. The incidence increased five-fold (95% CI 4.9, 5.1) from 355 per 100 000 inhabitants to 1772 during the respective years. The prevalence and incidence were the highest among persons aged 65-74 years. The largest relative increase in incidence was found among those aged >/= 75 years, in both females (RR 14.1, 95% CI 13.0, 15.3) and males (RR 14.0, 95% CI 12.5, 15.7). Since 2002 the prevalence has been higher among females (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
As statin use has increased particularly among the elderly, further studies on the benefits in real life situation are needed in this age group.
Ruokoniemi
Päivi
P
Graduate School of Clinical Drug Research, University of Turku, Turku, Finland. paivi.ruokoniemi@utu.fi
Helin-Salmivaara
Arja
A
Klaukka
Timo
T
Neuvonen
Pertti J
PJ
Huupponen
Risto
R
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017723:Drug Utilization Review / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors
D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
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