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Statin use varies among Hispanic adults at risk for CVD
In Hispanic American adults at high risk for CVD, lack of health insurance was associated with lower statin use, according to new data published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Researchers analyzed data from 4,139 participants at high risk for CVD who were enrolled in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos in the Bronx, New York, and Chicago, Miami and San Diego between March 2008 and June 2011. The cohort had a mean age of 52 years and 54% were women. Approximately 33% of participants had more than a high school education, and 51% reported an annual family income of less than $20,000.
The prevalence of CVD was highest (33%) in those of Puerto Rican background. Hypertension was most prevalent (54%) in those of Dominican descent. Overall, the most prevalent CV risk factor was diabetes, which was presented in 60% of all participants, with significant differences observed between all groups. In addition, more than one-third of participants did not have health insurance; participants of Central American descent had the highest uninsured rate (53%).
Overall, Hispanic adults were more likely to use aspirin (44%) than statins (25%); only 17% used both medications. Thirty-three percent of participants of Puerto Rican background used statins vs. 22% of those of Central American background. In addition, compared with Mexican Americans, participants of Puerto Rican background (OR = 1.7; 95% CI, 1.28-2.22) and Dominican background (OR = 1.4; 95% CI, 1.01-1.94) had higher odds of statin use. Lack of health insurance, however, reduced those odds, according to the researchers.
When comparing participants with (n = 939) and without (n = 3,197) prevalent CVD, more participants (33%) with prevalent CVD than without (23%) used statins. In those participants without prevalent CVD, only 17% of those participants of Central American background were likely to take statins vs. 32% in the group of Puerto Rican background.
Dima M. Qato
“These findings have important implications for preventing disparities in [CV] outcomes within the growing U.S. Hispanic/Latino population,” Dima M. Qato, PharmD, MPH, PhD, assistant professor of pharmacy systems, outcomes and policy at the University of Illinois, said in a press release. ...“Efforts to improve statin prescribing in patients likely to benefit are particularly important in patients with history of heart disease,” for preventing disparities in [CV] outcomes within the growing U.S. Hispanic/Latino population.” – by Tracey Romero
Disclosure: The study was funded by the NHLBI, National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the NIH Institution-Office of Dietary Supplements.