title: Direct-to-consumer television advertising exposure, diagnosis with high cholesterol, and statin use.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  While statin drugs are recommended for secondary prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD), there is no medical consensus on whether or not a statin should be added to lifestyle change efforts for primary prevention of CHD. Previous research suggests that exposure to direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) increases drug demand among those at comparatively low risk. Research has yet to examine whether individual-level DTCA exposure may influence statin use among men and women at high, moderate, or low risk for future cardiac events.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the relationship between estimated exposure to DTCA for statin drugs and two clinical variables: diagnosis with high cholesterol and statin use.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used logistic regression to analyze repeated cross-sectional surveys of the United States population, merged with data on the frequency of DTCA appearances on national, cable, and local television, between 2001 and 2007.
  
  
  METHODS
  American adults (n=106,685) aged 18 and older.
  
  
  METHODS
  Levels of exposure to statin DTCA, based on ad appearances and TV viewing patterns; self-reports of whether or not a respondent has been diagnosed with high cholesterol, and whether or not a respondent took a statin in the past year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adjusting for potential confounders, we estimate that exposure to statin ads increased the odds of being diagnosed with high cholesterol by 16 to 20 %, and increased statin use by 16 to 22 %, among both men and women (p<0.05). These associations were driven almost exclusively by men and women at low risk for future cardiac events. There was also evidence of a negative association between DTCA exposure and statin use among high-risk women (p<0.05) CONCLUSIONS: This study provides new evidence that DTCA may promote over-diagnosis of high cholesterol and over-treatment for populations where risks of statin use may outweigh potential benefits.
authors: Department of Communication, Cornell University, 328 Kennedy Hall, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA. jdn56@cornell.edu
authors: Jeff
authors: J
authors: Niederdeppe
authors: Sahara
authors: S
authors: Byrne
authors: Rosemary J
authors: RJ
authors: Avery
authors: Jonathan
authors: J
authors: Cantor
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000329:Advertising / Q000639:trends; D000368:Aged; D003256:Community Participation / Q000523:psychology* / Q000639:trends; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013690:Television / Q000639:trends; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors