title: Statin prescription by Croatian family doctors lack of systematic proactive approach to cardiovascular disease prevention.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate statin prescription by family doctors (GP) in primary (PP) and secondary (SP) prevention of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Patients' socio-demographic data, total cholesterol (TC) and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) thresholds for statin prescription, indications, data on GP and practices were registered. Statins were prescribed in 11.2% enlisted patients (64.11% PP, 35.88% SP), mostly aged 70+. In PP, thresholds were TC 6.2 +/- 1.09 mmol/L, LDL-C 3.6 mmol/L, in SP 5.4 +/- 1.26 mmol/L, 2,7 mmol/L, respectively. Most frequently prescribed statin in PP was 10 mg atorvastatin (49.28%), in SP it was 20 mg simvastatin (48.36%). Participating GPs were women, aged 39 +/ 5.49, working for 13 +/- 6 years, the average number of enlisted patients per GP 1562 +/- 299. There was statistically significant difference in statin prescription in PP (chi2 = 752.9; p < 0.001) and SP (chi2 = 64; p < 0.001). Statin prescription in PP is due to pharmaceutical marketing and lack of independent continuing medical education. The fact that statins are most frequently prescribed in patients aged 70+ (35.28% in PP 49.35% SP) reveals lack of preventive proactive CVDs approach in younger age groups, which is concerning.
authors.affiliation: Family Medicine Department, School of Medicine, University of Split, Split, Croatia. davorka.vrdoljak@mefst.hr
authors.forename: Davorka
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vrdoljak
authors.forename: Biserka
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bergman Marković
authors.forename: Ksenija
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kranjcević
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017523:Croatia; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011322:Primary Prevention
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors