Rate of Statin Prescription in Younger Patients With Severe Dyslipidemia.

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease affects 1 in 3 patients and remains the leading cause of death in the United States. Severe elevation of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels is a modifiable risk factor for developing premature cardiovascular disease, and elevation levels of 190 mg/dL or greater (to convert LDL-C values to millimoles per liter, multiply by 0.0259) may indicate a monogenic etiology such as familial hypercholesterolemia. Treatment with 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors or statins is recommended (class IA) for all adults 21 years or older with an LDL-C of 190 mg/dL or greater. Statin treatment appears to reduce mortality and result in cost savings for health systems.^, Therefore, we sought to examine rates of statin prescription in patients screened for dyslipidemia to identify treatment gaps in a real-world contemporary setting.