Long-term persistence with statin treatment in a not-for-profit health maintenance organization: a population-based retrospective cohort study in Israel.
BACKGROUND
Although discontinuing lipid-lowering treatment can cause preventable morbidity, previously published reports have indicated considerable variability in persistence with statin use. In general, such reports have been limited by short follow-up periods and modest study populations.


OBJECTIVE
The aims of this study were to assess long-term persistence with statins and to identify the sociodemographic, clinical, and pharmacotherapy-related factors associated with long-term persistence with statin treatment in first-time users in Israel.


METHODS
This retrospective cohort study used data from adult enrollees of a not-for-profit health maintenance organization and from death certificates in Israel. Eligible patients initiated statin treatment between 1998 and 2006. Persistence was assessed separately in patients with no indication of a cardiovascular disease (primary prevention) or coronary artery disease (secondary prevention). Treatment persistence and proportion of days covered (PDC) were measured using the interval between the date of the first prescription dispensation (index date) and the point of discontinuation.


RESULTS
Data from 229,918 patients were included (primary prevention, 136,052; secondary prevention, 93,866). The PDC was significantly higher in the secondary-prevention group compared with the primary-prevention group (59% vs 45%; P < 0.001). In both cohorts, persistence continually diminished from the index date through follow-up, with > or = 75% of patients discontinuing statin therapy by 2 years. Baseline predictors of discontinuation of statin treatment included younger age, female sex, lower socioeconomic status (SES), absence of diabetes or hypertension, no concurrent use of beta-blockers or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and less health service utilization. New immigrants and patients in the primary-prevention group who had a baseline low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration <130 mg/dL were at increased risk for treatment discontinuation.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study in these patients receiving first-time statin treatment in Israel, we found poor persistence with statins among both the primary- and secondary-prevention cohorts, especially among new immigrants and patients with low SES despite low out-of-pocket prescription costs and free access to health services.
Chodick
Gabriel
G
Medical Division, Maccabi Healthcare Services, Tel Aviv, Israel. hodik_g@mac.org.il
Shalev
Varda
V
Gerber
Yariv
Y
Heymann
Anthony D
AD
Silber
Haim
H
Simah
Virginia
V
Kokia
Ehud
E
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D016527:Drug Costs; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D009939:Organizations, Nonprofit / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012923:Social Class; D013997:Time Factors; D016903:Drug Monitoring
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D019821:Simvastatin