Statin use low for primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease

Statin use is low for primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), with the lowest use seen among Black and Hispanic adults, according to a study published online March 22 in JAMA Cardiology.

Joshua A. Jacobs, Pharm.D., from the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, and colleagues examined the prevalence of primary prevention statin use by race and ethnicity according to 10-year ASCVD risk using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2013 to March 2020. Data were included for 3,417 participants, representing 39.4 million U.S. adults, aged 40 to 75 years.

The researchers found that statin use was lower in Black and Hispanic versus White participants and was comparable among Asians in the overall cohort (25.5, 20.0, 15.4, and 27.9 percent for Asian, Black, Hispanic, and White participants, respectively) and within ASCVD risk strata. A graded increase in statin use was observed across increasing ASCVD risk strata within race and ethnicity groups.

In the highest risk stratum overall, statin use was low, with significantly lower rates of use seen for Black and Hispanic versus White participants (prevalence ratios, 0.90 and 0.90, respectively). In Black, Hispanic, and White adults, factors such as routine health care access and health insurance were significantly associated with higher statin use. Over time, there was no meaningful change observed in the prevalence of statin use by race and ethnicity or by ASCVD risk stratum.

"The significant differences in prevalence of statin use observed in this study, despite high ASCVD risk, highlight the importance of identifying intervenable factors to reduce cardiovascular health inequities," the authors write.

Several authors disclosed financial ties to the biopharmaceutical industry.

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