title: Gender differences in cholesterol-lowering medication prescribing in peripheral artery disease.
abstract: Among 320 patients with lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD) and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels > 70 mg/dl, we determined whether male sex, higher education, and greater self-efficacy for willingness to request therapy from one's physician were associated with increases in LDL-C-lowering medication and achievement of an LDL-C level < 70 mg/dl at 1-year follow-up. Participants were enrolled in a randomized controlled clinical trial to determine whether a telephone counseling intervention can help PAD patients achieve an LDL-C level < 70 mg/dl, compared to usual care and attention control conditions, respectively. Adjusting for age, race, comorbidities, PAD severity, and other covariates, male sex (odds ratio = 3.33, 95% confidence interval = 1.64 to 6.77, p = 0.001) was associated with a higher likelihood of adding cholesterol-lowering medication during follow-up, but was not associated with achieving an LDL-C < 70 mg/dl (odds ratio = 1.09, 95% confidence interval = 0.55 to 2.18). No associations of education level or self-efficacy with study outcomes were identified. In conclusion, male PAD patients with baseline LDL-C levels ≥ 70 mg/dl were more likely to intensify LDL-C-lowering medication during 1-year follow-up than female PAD patients. Despite greater increases in LDL-C-lowering medication among female PAD patients, there was no difference in the degree of LDL-C lowering during the study between men and women with PAD.
authors: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA. mdm608@northwestern.edu
authors: Mary M
authors: MM
authors: McDermott
authors: Philip
authors: P
authors: Greenland
authors: George
authors: G
authors: Reed
authors: Kathleen M
authors: KM
authors: Mazor
authors: Philip A
authors: PA
authors: Merriam
authors: Rex
authors: R
authors: Graff
authors: Huimin
authors: H
authors: Tao
authors: Sherry
authors: S
authors: Pagoto
authors: Larry
authors: L
authors: Manheim
authors: Melina R
authors: MR
authors: Kibbe
authors: Ira S
authors: IS
authors: Ockene
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D015897:Comorbidity; D037001:Directive Counseling; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D058729:Peripheral Arterial Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D013689:Telephone
chemical_list: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors