Table 5.
Factors associated with increased and decreased risk of discontinuation and restarting of statin treatment. Data are percentage change compared with the relevant reference group
| Risk factors | Discontinuation statin treatment | Restarting statin treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Primary prevention group | ||
| Patients more likely to discontinue and less likely to restart | ||
| Women v men | +6% | −8% |
| Age from 25 to 50 years v 60 years | +111 to +16% | −23% to 0% |
| Age from 75 to 84 years v 60 years | +4% to +29% | −16% to −32% |
| Body mass index from 15 to 23 v 25 | +44% to +3% | −12% to −1% |
| Liver disease | +17% | — |
| Cancer | — | −3% |
| Dementia (long term statin use) | +14% | −20% |
| Aspirin use | +2% | −8% |
| Each other non-cardiovascular treatment | +2% | — |
| Patients more likely to discontinue and more likely to restart | ||
| Ethnic minority groups v white | +25% to +89% | +21% to +46% |
| Current smoking, from light to heavy v non-smoking | +7% to +16% | +5% to +9% |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | +4% | +6% |
| Type 1 diabetes | +18% | +15% |
| Patients less likely to discontinue or more likely to restart | ||
| Ex-smoking v non-smoking | −3% | — |
| Atrial fibrillation | −4% | — |
| Hypertension | −20% | +8% |
| Heart failure | −8% | — |
| Type 2 diabetes | −20% | +35% |
| Family history of heart disease | — | +4% |
| Familial hypercholesterolaemia | −14% | +23% |
| Anticoagulant use | −12% | −6% |
| Secondary prevention group | ||
| Patients more likely to discontinue and less likely to restart | ||
| Women v men | +14% | −7% |
| Age from 75 to 84 years v 60 years | +10% to +35% | −14% to −26% |
| Body mass index from 15 to 23 v 25 | +55% to +3% | — |
| Liver disease | +22% | — |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | +22% | — |
| Cancer | +5% | −4% |
| Atrial fibrillation | +5% | −6% |
| Type 1 diabetes | +17% | — |
| Dementia (long term use) | +22% | — |
| Familial hypercholesterolaemia | +74% | — |
| Each other non-cardiovascular treatment | +3% | — |
| Patients more likely to discontinue and more likely to restart | ||
| Age from 25 to 50 v 60 years | +166% to +11% | +10% to +5% |
| Ethnic minority groups v white | +23% to +80% | +35% to +58% |
| Current smoking, from light to heavy v non-smoking | +14% to +27% | +4% to +11% |
| Patients less likely to discontinue or more likely to restart | ||
| Ex-smoking v non-smoking | −4% | +4% |
| Hypertension | −6% | — |
| Type 2 diabetes | — | +6% |
| Aspirin use | −17% | +5% |
| Anticoagulant use | −11% | — |