title: [A pilot study in a community pharmacy to determine the efficiency and the effectiveness of statin prescriptions].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The efficacy of statins to reduce LDL-cholesterol serum levels is high, but effectiveness is limited and costs are elevated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The efficiency and effectiveness of prescriptions were analyzed in a pilot study in a community pharmacy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community pharmacy. Prescriptions from two Murcian Health Service Centers in Lorca, Murcia (Spain).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 141 patients and 32 general practitioners were included. The efficiency was analyzed in 141 and effectiveness in 110 patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Socio-demographic characteristics and clinical history of patients and information about statin type and dosage were collected. Each patient was analyzed to determine the effectiveness of treatment according to cardiovascular risk and previous LDL-cholesterol level, and efficiency comparing the statin prescribed against other statins with equal pharmacological power.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most prescribed statin was atorvastatin (57.4%). Almost two-thirds (63.9%) of prescriptions were inefficient, and 17.3% were ineffective. In a bivariate analysis, patients with previous cardiovascular events (8/38; 21% vs 41/103; 39.8%. P=.040) and smokers (42/114; 36.8% vs 4/23; 17.4%, P=.047) were more likely to receive an inefficient prescription than patients with no cardiovascular events and non-smokers. In a multivariate analysis, smokers were more likely to receive an inefficient prescription than non-smokers (OR ajusted 3.76; 95% CI;1.03-0.77, P=.012).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most of the participants reached therapeutic objectives for LDL-Cholesterol levels, but more than half of the prescriptions were considered inefficient.
authors.affiliation: Farmacia 334, Lorca, Murcia, España. Electronic address: jmmaldonados@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jose Miguel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ruiz Maldonado
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Salud Pública, Historia de la Ciencia y Ginecología, Universidad Miguel Hernandez, San Juan de Alicante, CIBERESP (CIBER en Epidemiología y Salud Pública), Alicante, España.
authors.forename: Blanca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lumbreras
authors.affiliation: Fundación para la Formación e Investigación Sanitarias de la Región de Murcia, Murcia, España.
authors.forename: Hortensia
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Muñoz Jimenez
authors.affiliation: Farmacia 334, Lorca, Murcia, España.
authors.forename: Jose Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Navarrete Carranza
authors.affiliation: Unidad Docente de Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria de Lorca, Lorca, Murcia, España.
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Anza Aguirrezabala
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Salud Pública, Historia de la Ciencia y Ginecología, Universidad Miguel Hernandez, San Juan de Alicante, CIBERESP (CIBER en Epidemiología y Salud Pública), Alicante, España.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pastor-Valero
mesh_terms: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010594:Pharmacies; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013030:Spain; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
keywords: Atención primaria de salud; Efectividad; Effectiveness; Efficiency; Eficiencia; Estatinas; Primary Health Care; Statins