title: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level and statin use among Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes mellitus.
abstract: At the time of this study, guidelines recommended a primary goal of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level less than 100 mg/dL for all patients, an optional goal of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol less than 70 mg/dL for patients with overt cardiovascular disease and statins for patients with diabetes and overt cardiovascular disease and patients 40 years and older with diabetes and at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease. This study examined statin use and achievement of lipid goals among 111,730 Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries 65 years and older in 2011. Three-quarters of patients met the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol goal of less than 100 mg/dL. Patients with cardiovascular disease were more likely to meet the goal than those without, not controlling for other differences. Patients on a statin were more likely to meet the goal. There is considerable opportunity for improvement in cholesterol management in high-risk patients with diabetes mellitus.
authors.affiliation: Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Laura G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Qualls
authors.affiliation: Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Bradley G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Hammill
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care, Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Maciejewski
authors.affiliation: Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, NC, USA Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Lesley H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Curtis
authors.affiliation: Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, NC, USA Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA schuyler.jones@duke.edu.
authors.forename: W Schuyler
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D006278:Medicare; D015995:Prevalence; D017064:Process Assessment, Health Care; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
keywords: Cardiovascular diseases; cholesterol; diabetes mellitus; hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors; low-density lipoprotein; outcome and process assessment (health care)