Study shows cholesterol-lowering statins are underused

Across the nation, hundreds of thousands of patients each year are diagnosed with high cholesterol and are prescribed statins as therapy, but a recent study by Prime Therapeutics, LLC said about half of these patients will stop using the medication within the first year.

The study by  Prime Therapeutics, an independent pharmacy benefit manager, looked at patients who had commercial insurance and had filed claims indicating a diagnosis of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). These patients had also been advised by physicians that a low-cost statin regimen could significantly decrease the risk of a heart attack, coronary heart disease (CHD) or other serious complication.

Data from the study were presented  Oct. 26-29 at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) Nexus event in Orlando, Florida.

“With an average total claims cost of $56,233 associated with a CHD event, our research shows there is significant opportunity for members to become more adherent to lower-cost statin therapies that will help avoid these events,” Prime Therapeutics Principal Health Outcomes Researcher Kevin Bowen said.