Patient Characteristics and General Practitioners’ Advice to Stop Statins in Oldest-Old Patients: a Survey Study Across 30 Countries

• DOI: 10.1007/s11606-018-4795-x
• Publication Date: 2019-01-16T12:02:53Z
• Authors: Milly A. van der ...; Sven Streit; Wilco P. Achterberg; Erna Beers; Arthur M. Bohnen; Robert A. Burman; Claire Collins; Fabio G. Franco; Biljana Gerasimov...; Sandra Gintere; Raquel Gomez Bravo; Kathryn Hoffmann; Claudia Iftode; Sanda Kreitmayer ...; Tuomas H. Koskela; Donata Kurpas; Hubert Maisonneuve; Christan D. Mallen; Christoph Merlo; Yolanda Mueller; Christiane Muth; Ferdinando Petraz...; Nicolas Rodondi; Thomas Rosemann; Martin Sattler; Tjard Schermer; Marija Petek Šter; Zuzana Švadlenková; Athina Tatsioni; Hans Thulesius; Victoria Tkachenko; Péter Torzsa; Rosy Tsopra; Canan Tuz; Bert Vaes; Rita P. A. Viegas; Shlomo Vinker; Katharine A. Wallis; Andreas Zeller; Jacobijn Gussekloo; Rosalinde K. E. P...
• Keywords: Advice (programming)

Statins are widely used to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD). With advancing age, the risks of statins might outweigh potential benefits. It is unclear which factors influence general practitioners’ (GPs) advice stop in oldest-old patients. To investigate a history CVD, statin-related side effects, frailty and short life expectancy, on GPs’ We invited GPs participate this case-based survey. were presented with 8 case vignettes describing patients > 80 years using statin, asked whether they would advise stopping statin treatment. Cases varied effects frailty, without shortened expectancy (< 1 year) context metastatic, non-curable cancer. Odds ratios adjusted for GP characteristics (ORadj) calculated stop. Two thousand two hundred fifty from 30 countries participated (median response rate 36%). Overall, advised treatment 46% (95%CI 45–47) vignettes; proportion increased 90% (95CI% 89–90). Advice was more frequent CVD compared those (ORadj 13.8, 95%CI 12.6–15.1), ORadj 1.62 1.5–1.7) 4.1, 3.8–4.4) without. Shortened 50.7, 45.5–56.4) strongest predictor stop, ranging across 30% 19–42) 98% (95% CI 96–99). The absence presence all independently associated aged years. within countries, cancer-related independent statins.