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Statin use among older Finns stratified according to cardiovascular risk
European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 06/29/2012
Clinical Article
Upmeier E et al. – Statin prescribing is shifting towards older age groups. A substantial increase in prevalence and incidence was seen across all risk categories, but the channeling of statin use towards high–risk persons remained unchanged.
Methods- The authors conducted a register study covering the whole community–dwelling population of Finland, aged >70 years in 2000–2008 (N=883,051).
- Data on reimbursed purchases of statins, antidiabetic and CV drugs, and pre–existing CV diseases were retrieved from comprehensive national registers.
- The authors stratified each person into low, moderate or high CV risk category, and according to age (70–74, 75–79, and >80 years) and sex.
- Between 2000 and 2008, the age–sex–standardized prevalence of statin use tripled from 12.2 % to 38.7 % (rate ratio 3.0, 95 % CI 3.0–3.1), and the incidence almost doubled (from 3.7 % to 6.8 %; rate ratio 1.8, 95 % CI 1.8–1.9).
- The prevalence and incidence of statin use were consistently highest among high–risk persons.
- The greatest relative increases were observed in persons aged >80 years and in those at low risk; however, the proportion of statin users at low CV risk remained the same (~7 % of all users).