Abstract
Background Lifestyle and dietary advice typically precedes or accompanies the prescription of statin medications. However, evidence for adherence to this advice is sparse. The objective was to compare saturated fat intake, exercise, alcohol consumption and smoking between statin users and non-users in Australia. Methods Data were analysed for 4614 participants aged ≥37 years in the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle study in 2011-2012. Statin use, smoking status and physical activity were self-reported. Saturated fat and alcohol intake were measured via a food frequency questionnaire. Multinomial logistic regression was used to compute adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations between statin use and the four lifestyle factors. All models were adjusted for age, sex, education, number of general practitioner visits, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes and prior cardiovascular diseases. Results In total 1108 (24%) participants used a statin. Statin users were 29% less likely to be within the highest quartile versus the lowest quartile of daily saturated fat intake compared to non-users (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.54-0.94). There were no statistically significant associations between statin use and smoking, physical activity or alcohol consumption. Conclusions Smoking status, alcohol consumption and exercise level did not differ between users and non-users of statins. However, statin users were less likely to consume high levels of saturated fat than non-users. We found no evidence that people took statins to compensate for a poor diet or lifestyle.
Highlights
Lifestyle and dietary modifications are the cornerstone of primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD)
After adjustment for the covariates, statin use was not associated with being in the second (OR=1.05; 95% confidence intervals (CIs)=0.82-1.35) or third (OR=0.80; 95% CI=0.62-1.04) quartile vs. the lowest quartile of daily saturated fat intake (Table 2)
Statin users were 29% less likely to be within the highest quartile vs. the lowest quartile of daily saturated fat intake compared to non-users (OR=0.71, 95% CI=0.54-0.94)
Summary
Lifestyle and dietary modifications are the cornerstone of primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Low-moderate alcohol consumption, exercise and reduction in saturated fat intake reduce CVD risk.[1,2,3,4] Guidelines recommend that lifestyle and dietary advice should precede or accompany the prescription of statin medications.[5, 6] as lifestyle and dietary modifications can be challenging to implement and maintain, guidelines may not be followed.[7, 8] Meta-analyses have demonstrated the effectiveness of statin treatment in reducing cardiovascular-related mortality and morbidity.[9, 10] The prescribing of statins has increased rapidly in Australia, Europe and the US. The objective was to compare saturated fat intake, exercise, alcohol consumption and smoking between statin users and non-users in Australia. We found no evidence that people took stains to compensate for a poor diet or lifestyle
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