title: Achievement of LDL-cholesterol goal with statins after an st segment elevation myocardial infarction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In patients with very high cardiovascular risk, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) less than 70 mg/dL or at least 50% reduction of LDL-C are recommended targets. High-dose atorvastatin has been shown to reduce death and ischemic events among patients with acute coronary syndrome.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the proportion of STEMl patients that achieve LDL-C goal after hospital discharge from a real-world setting in Thailand To determine if the formulation of statin prescribed affected the LDL-C goal achievement.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors analyzed data from a cohort of patients with STEMI enrolled from June 1, 2008 through May 31, 2011. Patients who survived, were prescribed astatin on discharge and had LDL-C data at follow-up were analyzed. The formulation of statin was categorized as simvastatin or other statins (atorvastatin or rosuvastatin) group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-seven percent (n = 265 of 272) of patients were prescribed a statin at discharge. Of these, 216 patients had LDL-C data during a 3-month follow-up period, 75% were men, the mean age was 60.5 ± 12.2 years old and the mean baseline LDL-C was 118.1 ± 41.2 mg/dL. 73% (n = 157) of patients received simvastatin and 27% (n = 59) received other statins. At discharge, the median daily dose of simvastatin, atorvastatin and rosuvastatin were 20, 20 and 10 mg respectively. At follow-up, target LDL-C < 70 mg/dL or LDL-C reduction ≥ 50% was achieved in 30.1% (n = 65) of patients, 27.4% (n = 43) on simvastatin and 37.3% (n = 22) on other statins, (p = 0.158, simvastatin versus other statins). When stratified by the dose intensity of statin, a significantly greater proportion of patients on moderate to high intensity statin attained LDL-C goals than those on low intensity statin: (36.3% versus 24.3%, p = 0.038).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most patients with STEMI are prescribed statin therapy at discharge. Despite this, the target LDL-C is attained in a minority of the patients due to suboptimal statin dosing. The formulation of statin did not affect LDL-C goal attainment. High-dose statin therapy is underused in real-world clinical practice. These findings emphasize the opportunities to improve outcomes of STEMI patients with evidence-based therapies.
authors.forename: Wiwun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tungsubutra
authors.forename: Banthita
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Phongtuntakul
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005464:Fluorobenzenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012307:Risk Factors; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013785:Thailand; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D005464:Fluorobenzenes; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011743:Pyrimidines; D011758:Pyrroles; D013449:Sulfonamides; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D019821:Simvastatin