Research Article
Expert Opinion on the Prescription Practice of Statins in Lipid Management with a Specific Focus on Rosuvastatin Use in Indian Settings
Manjula S*and Krishna Kumar M
Department of Medical Services, Micro Labs Limited, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
*Corresponding author:Manjula S, Department of Medical Services, Micro Labs Limited, 31 Race Course Road, Bangalore, Karnataka, India- 560001 Email Id: drmanjulas@gmail.com
Copyright: ©2024 Manjula S, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Article Information:Submission: 16/04/2024; Accepted: 30/05/2024; Published: 07/06/2024
Abstract
Objective:The present survey-based study aims to gather the clinicians’ perspective regarding the prescription patterns of statins with a specific focus on the rosuvastatin for effective lipid management in comorbid conditions in Indian settings.
Methodology:The cross-sectional survey gathered expert opinions using a 24-item, multiple-response questionnaire related to current feedback, clinical observations, and specialists’ clinical experiences on lipid management, statins use, and prescription patterns of rosuvastatin.
Results:Fifty-three percent of clinicians noted that 20-30% of patients with dyslipidemia require combination therapy with statins. Moreover, 71% of clinicians recommended initiating statin therapy in patients with comorbidities such as diabetes or hypertension. Nearly 58% of clinicians agreed to the ACC/AHA 2019 lipid guidelines recommending the administration of the maximum tolerated dose of statins in individuals with LDL-C levels >190 mg/dl. Most clinicians recommended prescribing rosuvastatin for hyperlipidemia patients with hypertension or diabetes, and it was also the preferred statin for dyslipidemia patients. The 10 mg dosage was favored among those with diabetes, while the 20 mg dosage was recommended for patients with cardiovascular disease. Combinations of rosuvastatin and fenofibrate effectively reduced LDL/TG/hs-CRP, increased HDL, and decreased the risk of CVD. Clopidogrel was preferred to combine with rosuvastatin, and 20-30% of patients may have required this combination. The recommended duration of therapy for rosuvastatin + clopidogrel + aspirin in high CV-risk patients was 6-12 months.
Conclusion:The survey highlighted clinicians’ preferences for combination statin therapy in dyslipidemia, emphasizing early initiation in patients with diabetes or hypertension. Rosuvastatin emerged as the preferred choice, with dosages tailored to patient conditions. Additionally, respondents favored combination therapies with fenofibrate and clopidogrel, citing their additional benefits in reducing cardiovascular risk markers.
Methodology:The cross-sectional survey gathered expert opinions using a 24-item, multiple-response questionnaire related to current feedback, clinical observations, and specialists’ clinical experiences on lipid management, statins use, and prescription patterns of rosuvastatin.
Results:Fifty-three percent of clinicians noted that 20-30% of patients with dyslipidemia require combination therapy with statins. Moreover, 71% of clinicians recommended initiating statin therapy in patients with comorbidities such as diabetes or hypertension. Nearly 58% of clinicians agreed to the ACC/AHA 2019 lipid guidelines recommending the administration of the maximum tolerated dose of statins in individuals with LDL-C levels >190 mg/dl. Most clinicians recommended prescribing rosuvastatin for hyperlipidemia patients with hypertension or diabetes, and it was also the preferred statin for dyslipidemia patients. The 10 mg dosage was favored among those with diabetes, while the 20 mg dosage was recommended for patients with cardiovascular disease. Combinations of rosuvastatin and fenofibrate effectively reduced LDL/TG/hs-CRP, increased HDL, and decreased the risk of CVD. Clopidogrel was preferred to combine with rosuvastatin, and 20-30% of patients may have required this combination. The recommended duration of therapy for rosuvastatin + clopidogrel + aspirin in high CV-risk patients was 6-12 months.
Conclusion:The survey highlighted clinicians’ preferences for combination statin therapy in dyslipidemia, emphasizing early initiation in patients with diabetes or hypertension. Rosuvastatin emerged as the preferred choice, with dosages tailored to patient conditions. Additionally, respondents favored combination therapies with fenofibrate and clopidogrel, citing their additional benefits in reducing cardiovascular risk markers.
Keywords:Cardiovascular Diseases; Dyslipidemia; Hyperlipidemia; Statins; Rosuvastatin