Journal of Public Health Medicine 22:275-279 (2000)
© 2000 Faculty of Public Health Medicine of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom
Age, sex and practice variations in the use of statins in general practice in England and Wales
A Majeed0,1,z
K Moser0
R Maxwell0
0 Office for National Statistics, 1 Drummond Gate, London SW1V 2QQ, UK
1 School of Public Policy, University College London, London, WC1H 9EZ, UK
z Corresponding author
E-mail: azeem.majeed@ons.gov.uk
Background.Statins are highly effective in reducing the risk of sudden cardiac death and other acute coronary events in patients with pre-existing ischaemic heart disease or with raised blood cholesterol levels. However, relatively little is known about how statins are used in primary care. The objectives of this study were to investigate age, sex and inter-practice variations in the prescribing of statins.
Method.This was an observational study of statin prescribing rates in 288 general practices in England and Wales that contributed data to the General Practice Research Database in 1996.
Results.In 1996, 0.7 per cent of men and 0.5 per cent of women received a prescription for a statin. In the subgroup of patients with a general practitioner (GP) diagnosis of ischaemic heart disease, 13.3 per cent of men and 8.2 per cent of women received a prescription for a statin in 1996. Below the average of 65 years, men with ischaemic heart disease were more likely to be prescribed a statin than were women. Patients aged 75 years and over with ischaemic heart disease were unlikely to be prescribed a statin irrespective of their sex. The percentage of patients prescribed statins in individual practices varied from 0.1 to 2.3 per cent in men and from 0 to 2.3 per cent in women. The recorded prevalence of ischaemic heart disease explained only 12 per cent of this variation in men and 7 per cent in women.
Conclusion.There are large age, sex and inter-practice variations in the use of statins in primary care, which are poorly explained by measures of health need. Developing and implementing clinical guidelines to accompany the introduction of new drugs for the management of common chronic disorders should be seen as a priority for GPs, primary care groups and the National Institute of Clinical Excellence.
Keywords: statins, prescribing, primary care, comparative study
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  D. R. Petty and J. Silcock Explanations for variations in clopidogrel prescribing in England J. Public Health Med., December 1, 2008; 30(4): 494 - 498. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R. Gnavi, A. Migliardi, M. Demaria, A. Petrelli, A. Caprioglio, and G. Costa Statins prescribing for the secondary prevention of ischaemic heart disease in Torino, Italy. A case of ageism and social inequalities Eur J Public Health, October 1, 2007; 17(5): 492 - 496. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. Byrne, A. W Murphy, J. C Walsh, E. Shryane, M. McGroarty, and C. C Kelleher A cross-sectional study of secondary cardiac care in general practice: impact of personal and practice characteristics Fam. Pract., June 1, 2006; 23(3): 295 - 302. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 P. R Ward, P. R Noyce, and A. S St Leger Multivariate regression analysis of associations between general practitioner prescribing rates for coronary heart disease drugs and healthcare needs indicators J Epidemiol Community Health, January 1, 2005; 59(1): 86 - 86. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 T. Walley, P. Folino-Gallo, U. Schwabe, and E. van Ganse Variations and increase in use of statins across Europe: data from administrative databases BMJ, February 14, 2004; 328(7436): 385 - 386. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
P R Ward, P R Noyce, and A S St Leger Are GP practice prescribing rates for coronary heart disease drugs equitable? A cross sectional analysis in four primary care trusts in England J Epidemiol Community Health, February 1, 2004; 58(2): 89 - 96. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C G Isles Patients with acute coronary syndrome should start a statin while still in hospital Heart, July 1, 2002; 88(1): 5 - 6. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
F D A Reid, D G Cook, and P H Whincup Use of statins in the secondary prevention of coronary heart disease: is treatment equitable? Heart, July 1, 2002; 88(1): 15 - 19. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|