title: Factors of compliance in patients with hypercholesterolemia using rosuvastatin in primary care.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In order to evaluate the factors of compliance with a lipid lowering therapy, a prospective observational study of patients with hypercholesterolemia using rosuvastatin was carried out.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 2,607 patients who were newly prescribed rosuvastatin were enrolled from 32 family physicians in Korea from March 2009 to December 2009. Of them, 301 patients were excluded due to incomplete data or follow-up compliance data. The patients were regularly observed to ascertain the compliance associated with rosuvastatin at intervals of 12 and 24 weeks. We collected risk factors for the compliance using a structured questionnaire. The criteria for evaluating compliance are to measure clinic attendance, to assess the continuity of therapy, and to calculate the percentage of doses taken.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among a total of 2,306 patients, the degree of compliance was 54.1%. According to logistic regression analysis, the factors for compliance with the lipid lowering drug included old age (odds ratio [OR], 2.68; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.09 to 3.45), frequent exercise (OR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.43 to 2.18), previous statin therapy (OR, 4.02; 95% CI, 3.22 to 5.01), hypertension (OR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.48 to 2.19), diabetes mellitus (OR, 2.20; 95% CI, 1.69 to 2.87), concomitant medication (OR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.88 to 2.77), and high coronary heart disease (CHD) risk category (OR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.39 to 2.38). The compliance decreased with high low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (OR, 0.20; 95% CI, 0.16 to 0.26).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The compliance of patients using rosuvastatin was 54.1% in primary care. The factors related to higher compliance were old age, regular exercise, previous statin therapy, concomitant medication, presence of hypertension or diabetes, and higher CHD risk level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hye Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jung Ah
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Young Sik
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sung
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sunwoo
authors.forename: Han Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Chang Sup
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Keunsang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yum
authors.forename: Changjin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Yoo Seock
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Sang-Wook
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Dae Hyun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young Sung
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Compliance; Hypercholesterolemia; Lipid Lowering Therapy; Rosuvastatin