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Discontinuation of statins among patients with type 2 diabetes
Author(s) -
Lamberts E. J. F.,
Nijpels G.,
Welschen L. M. C.,
Hugtenburg J. G.,
Dekker J. M.,
Souverein P. C.,
Bouvy M. L.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
diabetes/metabolism research and reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.307
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1520-7560
pISSN - 1520-7552
DOI - 10.1002/dmrr.1293
Subject(s) - discontinuation , medicine , statin , type 2 diabetes , diabetes mellitus , medical prescription , pharmacology , endocrinology
Background Statins play an important role in the prevention of cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetes. Several studies have reported low adherence with statins among patients with type 2 diabetes. Studies comparing discontinuation of statins compared with discontinuation of oral anti‐diabetics within the same individuals before and after initiation of oral anti‐diabetic drugs are not available. The aim of this study was to describe discontinuation among patients with type 2 diabetes prescribed statins prior to and after initiation of oral anti‐diabetics and to compare statin discontinuation with discontinuation of oral anti‐diabetics. Methods We report an observational cohort study among patients initiating treatment with statins prior to or after initiation of oral anti‐diabetics between 1999 and 2007. Patients were classified as starting statins prior to initiation (Prior users) or after initiation (After users) of anti‐diabetics. Discontinuation was defined as an interval of 180 days or more between the theoretical end date of a statin/anti‐diabetic prescription and the dispensing date of the next statin/anti‐diabetic prescription. Results and Conclusions We included 3323 starters with oral anti‐diabetic drugs in our study; 2072 patients initiated statins in the period of observation. Discontinuation rates for statins were higher compared with oral anti‐diabetics (52.1 vs 15.0%). After users discontinued statin therapy more frequently compared to prior users (62.8 vs 48.2%). Discontinuation of statins is higher compared with anti‐diabetic discontinuation. Patients starting statins after the initiation of oral anti‐diabetic treatment are more likely to discontinue treatment than patients who initiate statins before the start of oral anti‐diabetics. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.