Abstract 17287: Increase in Utilization of High-intensity Statin Among New Users After the Release of the 2013 ACC/AHA Cholesterol Management Guideline

Abstract

Introduction: To characterize changes in statin utilization patterns after the release of the 2013 ACC/AHA cholesterol management guideline. Methods: Using administrative claims and laboratory results data from the HealthCore Integrated Research Database, statin use was captured during the 4 quarters before and after release of the 2013 ACC/AHA guideline. Individuals were classified into 4 statin benefit groups (SBG), as described in the ACC/AHA guideline. Patients new to statins were identified independently during each quarter. Results: An average of 205,358 patients were identified across the 4 SBG groups during each quarter, of whom an average of 3,658 were new statin users. New users were 41% women and 61 years old on average. Results are shown in Figure 1. In SBG 1, high-intensity statin use in patients <75 years increased from an average of 19.6% per quarter before the guideline to 24% in the quarters afterward. In SBG 2, there was a gradual increase in high-intensity statin use following introduction of the guideline. In SBG 3, high-intensity statin use for patients with 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk ≥7.5% increased during the post-guideline period, but little change was seen for moderate-intensity statin use for patients with ASCVD risk <7.5%. In SBG 4, a small increase in moderate- to high-intensity statin use was observed. Conclusions: The 2013 ACC/AHA guideline appeared to have a modest effect in the utilization of high-intensity statins among new users in the period immediately following its release. The increase was most marked in the use of high-intensity statins in ASCVD patients and in patients treated by specialists. Follow-up in future years to assess the impact of the ACC/AHA guideline is warranted.