Evaluation of statin prescriptions in type 2 diabetes: India Heart Watch-2

Prescribing patterns of statins and associated factors among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

In sub-Saharan African nations, there's a documented shortfall in the utilization of statins, despite established clinical guidelines advocating their use for reducing cardiovascular risks and overall mortality among Type 2 diabetes patients aged 40-75 years old. Most clinical guidelines recommend prescribing statins to individuals with type 2 diabetes to reduce the chances of cardiovascular disease. There is currently a lack of extensive research on statin utilization specifically for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in Africa. Thus, this study aimed to assess the prescription patterns of statins for preventing cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetes patients.

Methods

The findings of the review were presented following the guidelines outlined in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA-2020) checklist. We conducted searches on electronic databases including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, African Journal Online, and Google Scholar. This systematic review and meta-analysis included articles that met specific inclusion criteria: observational studies such as cross-sectional, cohort, and case-control studies focusing on determinants, risk factors, or correlates associated with statin prescription within Africa. Only published articles up to June 2, 2024, published in English, and conducted in either community or healthcare facility settings were considered. Data import was initially conducted using Microsoft Excel, and statistical analysis was performed using STATA software. Cochran's Q test was employed to assess whether there was a significant variance in prevalence among the studies. Additionally, the I2 statistic was utilized to quantify the extent of heterogeneity. A funnel plot, a visual tool, was utilized to evaluate publication bias.

Results

The search strategy resulted in 7695 published original articles. The full texts of the 89 papers were assessed for eligibility and quality. Moreover, some articles were rejected due to inaccuracies in the outcome variable. Ultimately, only ten studies focusing on the prevalence of statin prescription were examined. The research suggests that the pooled prevalence of statin prescription among Type 2 diabetic individuals in Africa is found to be 48.82% (95% CI: 35.41-63.24). Age greater than 65 years (AOR = 3.56, 95% CI: 1.70-7.45; I2 = 54.7%), comorbidity (AOR = 1.13, 95% CI: 0.27-4.63, I2 = 96.4%), dyslipidemia (AOR = 3.15, 95% CI: 1.54-6.44, I2 = 61.7%), DM duration greater than ten years (AOR = 1.36, 95% CI: 0.81-2.28, I2 = 77.3%), and government insurance (AOR = 8.85, 95% CI: 2.72-28.76, I2 = 81.5%) were factors associated with statin prescription among type 2 diabetic patients.

Conclusions

In general, the extent of statin prescriptions for individuals with type 2 diabetes who are eligible for statin therapy was below the target outlined by clinical practice guidelines. Being over 65 years old, having comorbidities, experiencing dyslipidemia, having type 2 diabetes for more than ten years, and having government insurance were all identified as independent factors predicting the prescription of statins. This finding is concerning and underscores the urgent need to enhance adherence to clinical practice guidelines for the well-being of this vulnerable population at high risk.

Appropriate Use of Primary Statin Preventive Therapy Among Patients with High Atherosclerosis-Related Cardiovascular Disease Risks: Cross-Sectional Study, Northeast Ethiopia

Background

Atherosclerosis-related cardiovascular diseases (coronary heart diseases, ischemic stroke, and peripheral vascular diseases) account for the majority of deaths in diabetic and other high-risk patients. Statin therapy reduces major vascular events, coronary death or nonfatal myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization, and ischemic stroke. However, a gap exists between guideline recommendations and the clinical practice of primary statin preventive therapy. This was a cross-sectional study that aimed to determine the prevalence and some associated risk factors of.

Purpose

This study was intended to assess the magnitude of primary statin preventive therapy and associated factors among patients with high atherosclerosis-related cardiovascular disease risks.

Patients and Methods

An institutional-based cross-sectional study design was conducted by a consecutive sampling technique from February 1, 2023, to May 30, 2023. Face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire, document review, and laboratory measurements were implemented to collect data. Data entered into Epi Data were analysed by STATA version 14 and summarized by using frequency tables and graphs. Binary and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed and checked for association at a p value of <0.05.

Results

A total of 389 patients were included in this study. Diabetes mellitus (43.75%), hypertension (47.3%), and chronic kidney disease (9.25%) were commonly identified diseases. One hundred sixty-seven (42.93%, CI: 38.07-47.92) patients with high atherosclerosis-related cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risks were on primary statin preventive therapy. Duration of diabetes mellitus (AOR=1.33, CI: 1.1569-1.528), treating physician (AOR=3.875, CI: 1.368-10.969), follow-up regularity (AOR=3.113, CI: 1.029-9.417) and ten-year atherosclerosis-related cardiovascular disease risk score (AOR=1.126, CI: 1.021-1.243) were found to be significantly associated with the use of primary statin preventive therapy.

Conclusion and Recommendations

The magnitude of patients who were on primary statin preventive therapy was relatively low (42.93%). Improving the regular follow-up and making senior physicians (internists) attend patients at medical follow-up clinics would likely improve the number of patients who are on primary statin preventive therapy.

Utilization of statins in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: the practice in a lower middle income South Asian country

Background

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among patients with type 2 diabetes. Statin reduces CVD risk. The ACC/AHA 2018 guideline on dyslipidemia recommends all patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus to be given moderate-intensity statin. We aimed to determine the prescription practices of statins among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to April 2021. Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus between 40 and 75 years were recruited from the University Medical Clinic and Endocrine Clinic at Colombo South Teaching Hospital, Sri Lanka.

Results

Four hundred seventy-one patients were enrolled with a mean age of 59.05 (± 9.139) years. The mean duration of diabetes was 10.97 (± 9.57) years. Four hundred forty-one (93.6%) patients were on statin and 30 (6.4%) patients were not on statin therapy. Those not on statins were not prescribed statins.

Conclusions

There were 163 (34.61%) patients who required high intensity. Though only 3 (1.73%) were on high-strength statin, the rest were on moderate (152, 93.25%), low (4, 2.45%), and none (4, 2.45%). Among patients with prior history of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and the high-risk category according to the 10-year ASCVD risk estimation (155, 32.91%), only 17 (10.97%) have achieved optimal LDL therapeutic targets (55mg/dL). A large proportion of the study population received statin therapy for primary and secondary prophylaxis. However, the majority were on suboptimal doses of statin and have not achieved therapeutic targets with regard to LDL-C levels. The findings highlight the importance of improving statin therapy and optimizing lipid management according to evidence-based guideline recommendations.

Utilization of Hypolipidemic Drugs, Patterns, and Factors Affecting Dyslipidemia Among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus at a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital in South India

Background The prevalence of dyslipidemia is higher in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and hypolipidemic drugs like statins are effective for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular events. Most of the patients with type 2 diabetes have a mixed type of dyslipidemia. This study aimed to evaluate the utilization of hypolipidemic drugs, patterns, and factors affecting dyslipidemia in T2DM participants. Methods This cross-sectional observational study was approved by the institutional ethics committee (IEC) of the Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center. It was conducted for a period of one year from July 2021 to June 2022. Participants with T2DM visiting the Department of General Medicine and Endocrinology were enrolled after obtaining informed consent. Demographic details, medication history, and laboratory data were recorded in case report form and statistical measures were applied. Results Out of 237 participants enrolled in the study, the predominance (n=133, 56%) was males. The mean age of the study population was 47.92±9.17 years, and the mean duration of diabetes was 6.8±5.3 years. Out of the total participants, 164 (69%) had deranged lipid profiles. Out of them, 129 (78.65%) were on hypolipidemic drugs. Regarding drug utilization, 122 (94.6%) received statins either rosuvastatin (54%) or atorvastatin (40%). In the deranged lipid profiles pattern, 24% (58) participants had one abnormal lipid parameter and the majority 70% (166) had combined lipid profile abnormality. Factors like increased BMI were significantly associated with dyslipidemia (p=0.004). Utilization of hypolipidemic drugs was also significantly associated with the control of dyslipidemia (p<0.001). It was observed that participants who were not on lipid-lowering drugs had 5.38 times more chance of dyslipidemia (OR=5.38; CI=2.82-10.28; p<0.001). Conclusion A high prevalence of dyslipidemia was observed among diabetic patients. Statins were the most prescribed drug in the study. BMI and lack of pharmacotherapy were found to have a statistically significant association with dyslipidemia in diabetic patients.

Prescribing patterns of statins and associated factors among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients attended at Jugol General Hospital in eastern Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study

Background

Most clinical practice guidelines support the use of statins in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, nothing is known about the prescribing patterns of statins at Jugol General Hospital in eastern Ethiopia.

Objective

This study aimed to assess the prescribing patterns of statins and associated factors among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients attended at Jugol General Hospital in eastern Ethiopia.

Methods

A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among 423 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who received follow-up care from 1 June 2017 to 1 June 2022. The study participants were enrolled consecutively using a convenience sampling technique. The data were extracted from patients' medical records using a data abstraction checklist. The extracted data were entered into EpiData, version 3.1, and exported to Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 22, for analysis. Associations were considered to be statistically significant at a p-value < 0.05 and presented as adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals.

Result

The medical records of 423 patients were reviewed. The review revealed that medical records were complete for 410 of these patients, and these records were included in the analysis. The majority of the study participants were female (72.2%) and between the age of 40 and 65 years (61.2%). All of the study participants were eligible for statin prescription; however, statins were prescribed for only 257 (62.7%) study participants. Of the statins prescribed, moderate-dose-intensity statins were prescribed for 40 (15.6%) participants who were at high risk of cardiovascular disease. Atorvastatin was the most commonly (93.3%) prescribed statin. The presence of hypertension, coronary artery disease, and cerebrovascular events was significantly associated with statin prescribing.

Conclusion

The magnitude of prescribing statins for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus was low in comparison with the clinical practice guidelines recommendation. This finding is alarming and is a call for action to improve the execution of clinical practice guidelines for the benefit of this high-risk population.

Statin Prescription Patterns Among Elderly Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Study in Lebanon

BACKGROUND

Even though statins have been proven to be effective in both primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease among diabetic patients, a suboptimal use of the latter has been detected in real clinical practice, especially among older adults.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the patterns and predictors of statin use among elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Lebanon.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study that extended between April 2021 and February 2022. Our study involved elderly T2DM outpatients, aged 65-80 years, who presented to 40 community pharmacies for prescription filling. Diabetes status was ascertained via dispensed medication information, and patients were classified based on the American Diabetes Association preset risk scores for cardiovascular diseases in diabetics: low, moderate, or high risk. The questionnaire included patients' demographics, clinical information, and status of statin use.

RESULTS

A total of 420 diabetic geriatric patients were observed in this study; their mean age was 70 years (± 7), and there was a predominance of males, 270 (64.3%). Almost all patients were classified as being at high risk, 396 (94.3%), while the rest were at moderate risk; thus, all were recommended to receive statins; however, statin prescription was only reported among 197 (46.9%), with atorvastatin and rosuvastatin being the most used: 102 (51.8%) and 62 (31.5%), respectively. Of patients prescribed statins, 60 (14.3%) were taking them for primary prevention and 137 (32.6%) for secondary prevention. Patients having a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index score had lesser odds of being prescribed statins (odds ratio [OR] 0.15, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.02-0.8, p = 0.028); however, those presenting with a history of dyslipidemia and coronary artery disease had higher odds of statin prescription (OR 10.5, 95% CI 4.2-26.1, p < 0.001, and OR 5.0, 95% CI 2.4-10.5, p < 0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Despite patients' eligibility to receive statins, statin undertreatment was evident among elderly outpatients with T2DM in Lebanon, which was modulated by several predictors.

South Asian ethnicity: What can we do to make this risk enhancer a risk equivalent?

South Asians account for around 25% of the global population and are the fastest-growing ethnicity in the US. This population has an increasing burden of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) which is also seen in the diaspora. Current risk prediction equations underestimate this risk and consider the South Asian ethnicity as a risk-enhancer among those with borderline-intermediate risk. In this review, we discuss why the South Asian population is at a higher risk of ASCVD and strategies to mitigate this increased risk.

Predictors of Pharmacotherapy and Quality of Life Among Patients With Diabetic Foot Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Study from a Tertiary Care Hospital in India

Objective:

To assess the patterns and predictors of pharmacotherapy and QOL in DFS patients in an Indian tertiary care hospital.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted among inpatients with DFS. Data on sociodemographic and clinical factors, pharmacotherapy, clinical outcomes, and QOL were analyzed using the chi-squared test, independent sample t-test, and binary logistic regression.

Results:

We screened 3284 inpatients and included consecutive 87 (2.7%) DFS patients. The mean age was 56.08 ± 11.05 years, with a male preponderance (75.8%). Mean HbA1c was 9.9 ± 2.483. About 75% of patients received insulin, and polypharmacy was noticed in 82.7%. About 67.8% of DFS patients had other vascular complications of diabetes, with diabetic retinopathy being the most common in 89%. Amputations were noticed in 32.1% of patients. Overall, poor QOL was seen in 79.3% of patients. The mean scores for different domains were as follows: physical, 41.51 ± 14.15; psychological, 42.90 ± 11.16; social relationships, 43.06 ± 19.36; and environment, 47.17 ± 13. The presence of complications from diabetes was a significant predictor of the utilization of antihypertensives (OR: 2.92, CI [1.09, 7.79], P = 0.03) and poor QOL (OR: 4.54, CI [0.965, 21.41], P = 0.05).

Conclusion:

DFS patients in this study were found to be younger with poor glycemic control and other vascular complications of diabetes. The presence of other complications of diabetes in DFS patients was found to be a predictor of pharmacotherapy and poor QOL.

Statin Prescription Patterns and Associated Factors Among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Attending Diabetic Clinic at Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

PURPOSE

To determine statin prescription patterns and associated factors among type 2 diabetes patients attending the diabetic clinic at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A hospital-based cross-sectional study involving outpatients was conducted from September 2020 to November 2020. Statin prescription history (both type and dosage) was obtained from patients as well as from the electronic medical records for determination of patterns. Participants were categorized as moderate or high risk for cardiovascular disease whereas prescription patterns were categorized as moderate and high intensity statins. Logistic regression was used to examine association, control confounders and effect modifier whereby p <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Of 400 patients who were approached for the study, 395 (98.8%) were eligible for statin prescriptions. The mean (±SD) age of the study participants was 58.1±10.3 years, out of which 371 (93.9%) belonged to the age group ≥40 years. Two-thirds(241 61.0%) of the patients were female. About two-thirds(257; 69.4%) of patients had health insurance coverage. Statins were prescribed in 47.3% of the participants. Moderate intensity statin was the only pattern prescribed. In the adjusted model, insurance coverage (OR: 0.056; 95% CI: 0.03-0.12), and hypertension (OR: 0.259; 95% CI: 0.12-0.54) were associated with an increased likelihood of being prescribed a moderate intensity statin.

CONCLUSION

A significant number of patients at MNH diabetic clinic were not on statins despite qualifying for the prescription. The findings call for further studies on reasons for low statin prescription practices in this tertiary facility.

Adherence to Clinical Guidelines on STATIN Prescribing Among Diabetic Patients Aged 40-75 Years Old in a Primary Care Setting: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Diabetes mellitus (D.M.) is a chronic metabolic disease caused by decreased insulin secretion, which increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Evidence has shown that statins reduce cardiovascular risk in patients with diabetes; moreover, most clinical guidelines recommend statins.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess the level and status of adherence to guidelines on statin prescription in patients with diabetes mellitus in a primary care setting in Palestine.

METHODS

A retrospective cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at an ambulatory center in Palestine. Data were collected by auditing prescription records and reviewing medical charts of patients with diabetes who visited the clinic from February 15 to March 17, 2021. The collected data included patient characteristics, comorbidities, lipid profiles, and statin prescription. A chi-square test was used to evaluate the appropriateness of the prescribed statins with different demographic and clinical variables. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22 was used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

Out Of 262 diabetic patients included in the analysis, 74% were prescribed appropriate statin therapy according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines, and 24% of patients had inappropriate statin therapy or needed statins. Furthermore, 82.8% were on high-intensity statins, while 11% were not taking any statins. More than 60% of patients had uncontrolled diabetes and hypertension.

CONCLUSION

Most guidelines recommend statin therapy in diabetic patients owing to its benefits in preventing cardiovascular complications. In this study, most patients were on appropriate STATIN therapy; however, 50% of diabetic patients had LDL of more than 100 mg/dl, and 25% were not prescribed statins, increasing their risk of ASCVD. Therefore, we recommend strict adherence to the established guidelines on statins prescribed to patients with diabetes to prevent cardiovascular complications, save lives, and reduce healthcare costs.

Determinants of Statin Initiation Among Adult Diabetic Patients in Bonga, Ethiopia

BACKGROUND

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic degenerative disease associated with a high risk of chronic complications and comorbidities. According t the World Health Organization, 16.7 million people worldwide die of cardiovascular diseases each year.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of this study is to evaluate determinants of statin initiation among diabetic patients.

METHODS

A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate statin initiation and determinants in Gebre Tsadik Shewa General Hospital, Bonga, Ethiopia. This hospital covers a catchment population of about 1.4 million and offers diagnosis and treatment in outpatient and inpatient settings in different departments. Epi data 4.0.2.49 and STATA 14.2 were used for data entry and analysis. Before analysis, presence of co-linearity and model fitness were checked. Chi-square statistics were used to check adequacy of cells for binary logistic regression. Bivariate analysis was done and p <0.25 was included in a multivariate model. Finally p-value less than 0.05 was considered a significant predictor.

RESULTS

A total of 120 patients were included in this study, of which 77 (64.17%) were males. The mean age and standard deviation was 47.04 ± 12.13 years with 75% of patients ≥40 years. The mean duration of illness was 10.26 ± 0.6 years. Ninety-eight (81.67%) patients had varying comorbidities. Sixty-four (53.33%) patients developed complications. The majority of patients were evaluated by a general practitioner (GP). Fifty-one (42.5%) patients started statins. Of them, 31 (60.78%) started for secondary prevention. The majority of patients had atorvastatin with moderate dosage. Government insurance (p=0.029), polypharmacy (0.008), physician level of training (0.023) and previous counseling of patients about the importance of statins (p<001) were significantly associated with initiation of statins.

CONCLUSION

Only near to 40% of patients started statins. Physician reluctance and unavailability of drugs were the most common reasons not to initiate statins. The hospital tries to provide medication. Physicians should evaluate patients in need of cardio-protective drugs.

Lipid Profile in Indian Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: The Scope for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk Reduction

OBJECTIVE

Reduction of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk in patients with diabetes requires proper management of lipid parameters. This study aimed to find the pattern of dyslipidemia and scope of ASCVD risk reduction in patients with diabetes by lipid management.

METHODS

Clinical, biochemical, and medication profiles of all patients with diabetes attending a tertiary diabetes care hospital over a 2-year period were collected. The prevalence of various lipid abnormalities was determined after excluding patients with thyroid dysfunction and those on lipid-lowering medications. Patients were stratified according to LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels, and other clinical parameters were compared among the groups. The adequacy of statin treatment was assessed based on American Diabetes Association guidelines.

RESULTS

Nine hundred and seventy-one patients were included. The prevalence of hyperlipidemia was 40.0%, of whom 14.6% were newly diagnosed. The most common lipid abnormality was elevated LDL cholesterol. Higher A1C and fasting blood glucose values were found to be associated with higher LDL cholesterol levels. Twenty-seven percent of patients with indications for treatment with statins were receiving them. Of those being treated with statins, 42.6% had an LDL cholesterol level ≥100 mg/dL.

CONCLUSION

In South Indian patients with type 2 diabetes and fair glycemic control, high LDL cholesterol is the predominant lipid abnormality. There remains a huge potential for ASCVD risk reduction in this population if the knowledge practice gap is addressed.

Quality of medical prescriptions in diabetes and hypertension management in Kerala and its associated factors

BACKGROUND

Kerala is facing challenges in the secondary prevention efforts of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). In spite of being the top performer in health parameters among Indian states, the burden of NCDs, especially diabetes mellitus (diabetes) and hypertension, is higher in Kerala. This research endeavours to identify the role of quality of medical prescriptions in secondary prevention of diabetes and hypertension and suggest corrective measures.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study involved collection of prescription data and other details from consenting doctors across seven districts in Kerala. After the quality of prescription was assessed using a checklist, scores were generated, and cutoff points were used to classify the prescriptions. PASW version 18 software, was used for data analysis which included univariate and bivariate analyses and logistic regression. The proportion of quality prescriptions was estimated after adjusting for clustering, and the proportion of doctors writing quality prescriptions was also estimated. Prior to the study, ethical clearance from Independent ethics committee in Health action by People (HAP) and informed consent from all the study participants were obtained.

RESULTS

After assessing 9199 prescriptions from 344 doctors, it was found that about 37.2% (95% CI: 34.9-39.4%) of the prescriptions were of good quality, and 48.2% (95% CI: 42.9-53.7%) of the doctors provided quality prescriptions. Factors associated with quality prescriptions were found to be knowledge about NCD guidelines, quality certifications of hospitals and usage of patient data management software.

CONCLUSIONS

In the context of rising prevalence of NCDs and the challenges in the secondary prevention efforts, this is one of the first studies in Kerala to evaluate the quality of prescriptions to manage NCDs as prescriptions often reflect the quality of medical management. The study also addresses other factors associated with quality medical management. The findings indicate that the scope for improvement is more than 50%, when considered for the overall quality of prescriptions in diabetes and hypertension management. Further, it was found that appropriate training of doctors, adherence to treatment guidelines and the use of technology may improve the overall quality of prescriptions.

Prescribing pattern of statins for primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases in patients with type 2 diabetes: insights from Ethiopia

Objective

Although most clinical practice guidelines endorsed statin use in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients for reducing cardiovascular diseases (CVD), little is known about statin utilization in case of Ethiopia. Hence, this study was aimed to evaluate prescribing pattern of statins for primary prevention of CVD in T2D patients. A retrospective study conducted in T2D patients with the age group of 40–75 years. Prescriptions were audited for details of statin use and dose intensity. Descriptive analysis was performed using SPSS version 22.0.

Results

We included a total of 323 study subjects. Of those, 55.7% study subjects were found to be received statin for their primary prevention of CVD. Commonly prescribed type of statins was simvastatin (37.2%), atorvastatin (32.8%) and rosuvastatin (15.6%). Low, moderate and high intensive dose of statins were prescribed in 27.8%, 46.1%, and 26.1%, respectively. Of those subjects received statin, 60.6% had on target cholesterol level. Overall, a significant percentage of subjects did not receive their recommended statin for primary prevention of CVD which is below the guidelines’ recommendation. Therefore, adherence to guidelines may help to promote the use of statins for primary prevention of CVD in T2D and advance interventions to improve statin prescribing should be considered.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13104-019-4423-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Exploring Clinical Care Among Adults With Diabetes Mellitus: Alignment With Recommended Statin and Sulfonylureas Treatment

OBJECTIVES

The care of patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), compiled in the 2008 Canadian Diabetes Association clinical practice guidelines and in recommendations from the Choosing Wisely Canada program, is informed by a large body of evidence. This study sought to assess to what extent primary care providers (PCPs) incorporate recommended statin and sulfonylureas treatment in their care of patients with DM, and to identify the association between use of recommended care and PCP characteristics.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study (2007-2017) used electronic medical records of 21,149 patients with DM receiving care from 240 PCPs participating in the Manitoba Primary Care Research Network.

RESULTS

PCPs prescribed statins to patients newly diagnosed with DM who were ≥40 years of age 41% of the time, with 45% of the prescriptions occurring ≤180 days after a new diagnosis (early treatment). PCPs least likely to prescribe recommended statin treatment had higher odds of being older (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01 to 1.09) and fee-for-service funded (aOR, 4.36; 95% CI, 1.47 to 12.91). In addition, older PCPs (aOR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.10) and women (aOR, 2.42; 95% CI, 1.11 to 5.28) were less likely to prescribe statin treatment early. Seventy-four percent of PCPs prescribed sulfonylureas to adults ≥65 years of age. No PCP characteristics were associated with prescription of sulfonylureas in the lower implementation quartile in the fully adjusted model.

CONCLUSIONS

Results suggest that PCPs' practice does not always align with current evidence-based clinical guidelines or Choosing Wisely Canada recommendations for patients with DM. Some PCP's characteristics were associated with lower implementation of recommended evidence-based care. This information can help guide future targeted medical education.

Clinical management of type 2 diabetes in south Asia

Compared with other ethnic groups, south Asian people with type 2 diabetes tend to develop the disease at a younger age and manifest with higher glycaemia, dyslipidaemia, nephropathy, and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, specific issues that can affect treatment of type 2 diabetes in south Asia include poor awareness of the disease, delay in diagnosis, inadequate treatment, the use of ineffective and often harmful alternative medicines, and frequent non-compliance with lifestyle recommendations and drug treatment. Disease development at younger ages, delayed diagnosis, and inadequate management result in early development of severe complications and premature mortality. In this Series paper, we describe the challenges associated with the increasing burden of type 2 diabetes in south Asia and discuss ways to improve clinical care of people with the disorder in the region (defined to include Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka). Treatment of diabetes in south Asia needs to be individualised on the basis of diverse and heterogeneous lifestyle, phenotype, environmental, social, cultural, and economic factors. Aggressive management of risk factors from diagnosis is necessary to reduce the risk of microvascular and macrovascular complications, focusing on provision of basic treatments (eg, metformin, low-cost statins, and blood pressure-lowering drugs) and other interventions such as smoking cessation. Strengthening of the primary care model of care, better referral linkages, and implementation of rehabilitation services to care for patients with chronic complications will be important. Finally, improvement of physicians' skills, provision of relevant training to non-physician health-care workers, and the development and regular updating of national clinical management guidelines will also be crucial to improve diabetes care in the region.

Adaptation of 2016 European Society of Cardiology/European Atherosclerosis Society guideline for lipid management to Indian patients - A consensus document

In the year 2016, European Society of Cardiology/European Atherosclerosis Society (ESC/EAS) guidelines provided recommendations on dyslipidemia management. The recommendation from these guidelines are restricted to European subcontinent. To adapt the updated recommendations for Indian subset of dyslipidemia, a panel of experts in management of dyslipidemia provided their expert opinions. This document provides expert consensus on adapting 2016 ESC dyslipidemia guidelines recommendations in Indian setting. The document also discussed India-specific relevant literature to support the consensus opinions provided in management of dyslipidemia.

Recent trends in epidemiology of dyslipidemias in India

Dyslipidemia is the most important atherosclerotic risk factor. Review of population based studies in India shows increasing mean total cholesterol levels. Recent studies have reported that high cholesterol is present in 25–30% of urban and 15–20% rural subjects. This prevalence is lower than high-income countries. The most common dyslipidemia in India are borderline high LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol and high triglycerides. Studies have reported that over a 20-year period total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels have increased among urban populations. Case-control studies have reported that there is significant association of coronary events with raised apolipoproteinB, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol and inverse association with high apolipoproteinA and HDL cholesterol. Prevalence of suspected familial hypercholesterolemia in urban subjects varies from 1:125 to 1:450. Only limited studies exist regarding lipid abnormalities in children. There is low awareness, treatment and control of hypercholesterolemia in India.

Prevalence of statin use among high-risk patients in urban and rural Vellore, Tamil Nadu: A population-based cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

This study assessed statin use among diabetics and those with coronary heart disease (CHD) in Vellore, Tamil Nadu.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted in rural and urban Vellore, among 6196 participants (30-64 years), in 2010-2012. Statin use among those with known CHD and diabetes (on diabetic medication) was recorded. A randomly selected sample of rural diabetics was resurveyed in 2016 to reassess statin use.

RESULTS

Among 61 with CHD, 23 (37.7%) were on statins. Statin use among 422 diabetics aged ≥40 years with low-density lipoprotein ≥70 mg/dl was 13.4% in urban and 7.6% among rural. Statin usage among rural diabetics aged ≥40 years increased from 7.7% in 2010-2012 to 16.6% in 2016.

CONCLUSIONS

Statin use for CHD was below 50% although higher than the use among diabetics, indicating the need to address this low rate of usage among these high-risk groups.