Table 1.
Comparison of Baseline Characteristics Among CVD Patients on High‐Intensity and Low‐ to Moderate‐Intensity Statin Therapy
| Characteristic | High‐Intensity Statin Therapy, n = 229 437 | Low‐ to Moderate‐Intensity Statin Therapy, n = 399 568 | P Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age, y, mean/SD | 68.8/9.7 | 72/10.5 | <0.0001 |
| Female sex, n (%) | 2828 (1.23) | 4868 (1.22) | 0.60 |
| Race, n (%) | |||
| White | 196 006 (85.4) | 348 733 (87.3) | |
| Black | 20 833 (9.1) | 32 051 (8.0) | |
| Other | 3944 (1.7) | 6610 (1.6) | |
| Unknown | 8654 (3.8) | 12 174 (3.1) | <0.0001 |
| DM, n (%) | 110 405 (48.1) | 399 568 (63.5) | <0.0001 |
| Hypertension, n (%) | 191 636 (83.5) | 331 630 (83) | <0.0001 |
| History of CHD, n (%)a | 220 562 (96.1) | 377 380 (94.4) | <0.0001 |
| History of MI, n (%) | 104 843 (45.7) | 172 050 (43.1) | <0.0001 |
| History of PAD only, n (%) | 8875 (3.9) | 22 188 (5.5) | <0.0001 |
| Diagnostic Cost Group RRS, mean/SD | 1.77/2.52 | 1.94/2.85 | <0.0001 |
| Receiving primary care from a physician provider, n (%)b | 173 851 (78) | 300 610 (77.5) | <0.0001 |
| Receiving care at a teaching facility | 96 939 (42.3) | 166 728 (41.7) | <0.0001 |
| Number of primary‐care visits in prior 12 months, mean/SD | 4.89/4 | 4.86/4 | 0.006 |
| Receiving nonstatin lipid‐lowering medication(s), n (%)c | 36 434 (15.9) | 44 037 (11) | <0.0001 |
Abbreviations: CHD, coronary heart disease; CVD, cardiovascular disease; DM, diabetes mellitus; MI, myocardial infarction; PAD, peripheral artery disease; RRS, relative risk score; SD, standard deviation.
a
History of CHD with or without PAD.
b
Percentage calculated from among those with available data.
c
Nonstatin lipid‐lowering medications include bile acid sequestrants, ezetimibe, niacin therapy, fish oil, or fibrate use.