Prescribing of Statins After Lower Extremity Revascularization Procedures in the US
Terrific work from our flowmigos at USC Cardiology and Vascular Surgery as well as the University of Chicago. Bottom line: overall improvement in statin use over the past decade but significant opportunities for improvement in those discharged from hospital not having previously been given a statin.
Key Points
Question In patients undergoing lower extremity revascularization, what are the rates of new statin prescription after the procedure and the clinical characteristics associated with statin prescription?
Findings In this cross-sectional study of 125 791 patients presenting for peripheral revascularization within the Vascular Quality Initiative registry, only 30% of patients not receiving statin therapy at the time of intervention were discharged with a new statin prescription. Traditional cardiac risk factors and known cardiac disease were associated with new statin prescription.
Meaning This study suggests that statin prescription remains suboptimal and may be associated with other comorbid conditions despite evidence of benefit in all individuals with revascularized peripheral artery disease.
Importance The use of statins in patients with symptomatic peripheral artery disease remains suboptimal despite strong clinical practice guideline recommendations; however, it is unknown whether rates are associated with substantial improvements after lower extremity revascularization.
Objective To report longitudinal trends of statin use in patients with peripheral artery disease undergoing lower extremity revascularization and to identify the clinical and procedural characteristics associated with prescriptions for new statin therapy at discharge.
Design, Setting, and Participants This was a retrospective cross-sectional study using data from the Vascular Quality Initiative registry of patients who underwent lower extremity peripheral artery disease revascularization from January 1, 2014, through December 31, 2019. The Vascular Quality Initiative is a multicenter registry database including academic and community-based hospitals throughout the US. Patients aged 18 years or older undergoing lower extremity revascularization with available statin data (preprocedure and postprocedure) were included. Those not receiving statin therapy for medical reasons were excluded from final analyses.
Exposures Patients undergoing lower extremity revascularization for whom statin therapy is indicated.
Main Outcomes and Measures Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the clinical and procedural characteristics associated with new statin prescription for patients not already taking a statin preprocedure. The overall rates of statin prescription as well as rates of new statin prescription at discharge were determined. In addition, the clinical, demographic, and procedural characteristics associated with new statin prescription were analyzed.
Results There were 172 025 procedures corresponding to 125 791 patients (mean [SD] age, 67.7 [11.0] years; 107 800 men [62.7%]; and 135 405 White [78.7%]) included in the analysis. Overall rates of statin prescription at discharge improved from 17 299 of 23 093 (75%) in 2014 to 29 804 of 34 231 (87%) in 2019. However, only 12 790 of 42 020 patients (30%) not already taking a statin at the time of revascularization during the study period were newly discharged with a statin medication. New statin prescription rates were substantially lower after endovascular intervention (7745 of 29 581 [26%]) than after lower extremity bypass (5045 of 12 439 [41%]). Body mass index of 30 or greater (odds ratio [OR], 1.13; 95% CI, 1.04-1.24; P < .001), diabetes (diet-controlled vs no diabetes, OR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.05-1.41; P = .01), smoking (current vs never, OR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.21-1.45; P < .001), hypertension (OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.09-1.29; P < .001), and coronary heart disease (OR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.17-1.35; P < .001) were associated with an increased likelihood of new statin prescription after endovascular intervention, whereas female sex, older age, antiplatelet use, and prior peripheral revascularization were associated with a decreased likelihood.
Conclusions and Relevance In this cross-sectional study, although statin use was associated with a substantial improvement after lower extremity revascularization, more than two-thirds of patients not already taking a statin preprocedure remained not taking a statin at discharge. Further investigations to understand the clinical implications of these findings and develop clinician- and system-based interventions are needed.
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