title: Sociodemographic and diagnostic characteristics of prescribing a second-line lipid-lowering medication: ezetimibe used as initial medication, switch from statins, or add-on medication.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ezetimibe is used as a second-line lipid-lowering medication (LLM) if statin therapy is not tolerated or cholesterol targets are not reached by statins alone. We aimed to investigate the impact of sociodemographic factors on ezetimibe initiation as (a) incident LLM therapy, (b) add-on therapy, and (c) switch from statins.
  
  
  METHODS
  All individuals aged 30+ who had filled at least one prescription for either statins (N = 581.074) or ezetimibe (N = 7.932) in 2011 were followed in the nationwide Danish registries to explore LLM prescribing patterns from 1 January 2011 to end 2012. Using logistic regression analyses, the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) was calculated for (a) incident ezetimibe use among LLM initiators (N = 77,472), (b) ezetimibe switching by discontinuing statin users (N = 37,509), and (c) ezetimibe as add-on by non-discontinuing statin users (N = 442,672).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women had higher odds for initiating ezetimibe than men (switch OR = 1.55; 95% CI = 1.32-1.82). While prior use of newer high-potency statins was the strongest predictor (add-on (5.56; 4.95-6.24), income was the strongest socioeconomic predictor for incident LLM use (1.33; 1.14-1.56) and switching (1.64; 1.27-2.13). Both income and education were predictors for add-on therapy, with the educational effect mediated by prior use of high-potency statins. Odds for ezetimibe prescribing were highest in myocardial infarction patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While higher income is a predictor for switching to ezetimibe, both higher education and income are weak predictors for using ezetimibe as add-on therapy. Women and individuals with myocardial infarction are more likely to be prescribed ezetimibe than others, despite lack of evidence of ezetimibe lowering the risk of cardiovascular events.
authors.affiliation: Section for Social and Clinical Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark. helle.wallach@sund.ku.dk.
authors.forename: Helle
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wallach-Kildemoes
authors.affiliation: Section for Social and Clinical Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Ebba Holme
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Hansen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003718:Denmark; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000069438:Ezetimibe / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D008055:Lipids; D000069438:Ezetimibe
keywords: Ezetimibe; Lipid-lowering medication; Second-line treatment; Sociodemographics; Statins