Impact of the JUPITER trial on statin prescribing for primary prevention

Changing predictors of statin initiation in US women over two decades

PURPOSE

To describe changing roles of predictors of statin initiation before and after incident coronary heart disease, and before and after publication of National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel-III (ATP-III) guidelines in a cohort of US women.

METHODS

We identified 34 382 women enrolled into the Women's Health Study from 1993 to 1995 and followed up until 2012. Proportions of previous nonusers initiating statins were described over time. We used multivariable linear regression models to estimate adjusted initiation proportion differences (IPDs) for initiation overall, separately before and after incident coronary heart disease, and separately for ATP-II and ATP-III time periods.

RESULTS

Key predictors of initiation overall were self-reported total cholesterol, and previous incident coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and diabetes. Adjusted IPDs (percentage) for total cholesterol > 240 vs <200 mg/dL were 7.5 (95% confidence interval [CI], 7.0-8.0) and 9.3 (95% CI, 8.7-9.9) during ATP-II and ATP-III time periods, respectively. Adjusted IPDs in women with diabetes were 7.0 (95% CI, 6.3-7.8) and 11.9 (95% CI, 6.7-17.0) for primary and secondary prevention, respectively, and 3.1 (95% CI, 2.1-4.0) and 9.2 (95% CI 8.2-10.2) for before and after ATP-III, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Secular trends reflected evolution toward risk factor-based treatment indications for statin initiation with increased initiation among diabetics and women with normal and borderline cholesterol. The role of serum cholesterol changed over time, though the character was scale (multiplicative vs additive) dependent. In pharmacoepidemiologic studies of statins, strength of confounding by important variables sometimes unmeasured in claims data, such as cholesterol level, may be calendar time dependent.

Trends in Statin Use in Seniors 1999 to 2013: Time Series Analysis

PURPOSE

To examine HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin) drug dispensing patterns to Nova Scotia Seniors' Pharmacare program (NSSPP) beneficiaries over a 14-year period in response to: 1) rosuvastatin market entry in 2003, 2) JUPITER trial publication in 2008, and 3) generic atorvastatin availability in 2010.

METHODS

All NSSPP beneficiaries who redeemed at least one prescription for a statin from April 1, 1999 to March 31, 2013 were included. Aggregated, anonymous monthly prescription counts were extracted by the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness (Nova Scotia, Canada) and changes in dispensing patterns of statins were measured. Data were analyzed using descriptive analyses and interrupted time series methods.

RESULTS

The percentage of NSSPP beneficiaries dispensed any statin increased from 5.3% in April 1999 to 20.7% in March 2013. In 1999, most NSSPP beneficiaries were dispensed either simvastatin (29.5%) or atorvastatin (28.7%). When rosuvastatin was added to the NSSPP Formulary in August 2003, prescriptions dispensed for simvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, and fluvastatin declined significantly (slope change, -0.0027; 95% confidence interval (CI), (-0.0046, -0.0009)). This significant decline continued following the publication of JUPITER (level change, -0.1974; 95% CI, (-0.2991, -0.0957)) and the availability of generic atorvastatin (level change, -0.2436; 95% CI, (-0.3314, -0.1558)). Atorvastatin was not significantly affected by any of the three interventions, although it maintained an overall decreasing trend. Only upon the availability of generic atorvastatin did the upward trend in rosuvastatin use decrease significantly (slope change, -0.0010, 95% CI, (-0.0015, -0.0005)).

CONCLUSIONS

The type and rate of statins dispensed to NSSPP beneficiaries changed from 1999 to 2013 in response to the availability of new agents and publication of the JUPITER trial. The overall proportion of NSSPP beneficiaries dispensed a statin increased approximately 4-fold during the study period. In 2013, rosuvastatin was the most commonly dispensed statin (44.1%) followed by atorvastatin (39.1%).

Statins and New-Onset Diabetes Mellitus and Diabetic Complications: A Retrospective Cohort Study of US Healthy Adults

BACKGROUND

Statin use is associated with increased incidence of diabetes and possibly with increased body weight and reduced exercise capacity. Data on the long-term effects of these associations in healthy adults, however, are very limited. In addition, the relationship between these effects and diabetic complications has not been adequately studied.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association between statin use and new-onset diabetes, diabetic complications, and overweight/obesity in a cohort of healthy adults.

RESEARCH DESIGN

This was a retrospective cohort study.

PARTICIPANTS

Subjects were Tricare beneficiaries who were evaluated between October 1, 2003 and March 1, 2012. Patients were divided into statin users and nonusers.

INTERVENTION

We excluded patients who, at baseline, had a preexisting disease indicative of cardiovascular diseases, any positive element of the Charlson comorbidity index (including diabetes mellitus), or life-limiting chronic diseases. Using 42 baseline characteristics, we generated a propensity score to match statin users and nonusers.

MAIN MEASURES

Outcomes assessed included new-onset diabetes, diabetic complications, and overweight/obesity.

KEY RESULTS

A total of 25,970 patients (3982 statin users and 21,988 nonusers) were identified as healthy adults at baseline. Of these, 3351 statins users and 3351 nonusers were propensity score-matched. Statin users had higher odds of new-onset diabetes (odds ratio [OR] 1.87; 95 % confidence interval [95 % CI] 1.67-2.01), diabetes with complications (OR 2.50; 95 % CI 1.88-3.32), and overweight/obesity (OR 1.14; 95 % CI 1.04-1.25). Secondary and sensitivity analyses demonstrated similar findings.

CONCLUSIONS

Diabetes, diabetic complications, and overweight/obesity were more commonly diagnosed among statin-users than similar nonusers in a healthy cohort of adults. This study demonstrates that short-term clinical trials might not fully describe the risk/benefit of long-term statin use for primary prevention.