(118) Factors Associated with Non-Persistence with Statin Treatment in Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease

Publication Number: 792

Introduction: Long-term persistence with statin treatment represents a basic precondition of successful secondary prevention in peripheral arterial disease (PAD) patients. The aims of our study were: a) to analyse non-persistence with statins, and b) to identify patient- and medication-related characteristics associated with non-persistence.

Methods: Our study cohort (n=13763) included patients treated with statins in whom PAD was newly diagnosed between 1 January and 31 December 2012. The database of the General Health Insurance Company represented a source of data for our study. Patients were followed for five years. Patients with at least six months without any statin prescription were defined as non-persistent patients. To analyse characteristics associated with non-persistence, the Cox proportional hazards model was applied.

Results: At the end of the 5-year follow-up, 5,743 (41.7%) patients were found to be non-persistent. Increasing age, history of ischemic stroke, diabetes mellitus, high intensity statin treatment, general practitioner as index prescriber, increasing overall number of medications, and administration of certain cardiovascular medications represented factors associated with a decreased probability of non-persistence. On the contrary, female sex, university education, simvastatin or rosuvastatin as initially administered statins, being a new statin user, and increasing patient´s co-payment were associated with an increased likelihood of discontinuation of statin treatment.

Conclusions: In non-persistent patients, special attention should be paid to improving their adherence to medications.