Why carry out this study?

The lipid-lowering efficacy of atorvastatin is well studied in clinical trials, yet many patients fail to meet their prescribed low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) goals when atorvastatin is taken in a real-world setting.

The availability of atorvastatin as a generic formulation has facilitated widespread prescribing, increasing the need to understand medication-taking behavior of patients in the non-clinical setting.

The aim of this review was to identify literature that discussed: (1) patient adherence/persistence to atorvastatin in the real-world setting and the impact of adherence on lipid and efficacy outcomes; and (2) the influence of generic atorvastatin utilization on adherence/persistence and efficacy outcomes.

What was learned from the study?

Adherence to atorvastatin remains suboptimal; patients fail to achieve their LDL-C goals, leading to increased risk of cardiovascular events.

Adherence may be impacted by switching between generic and branded atorvastatin, but further long-term studies are required to confirm the real impact of generic atorvastatin usage on medication-taking behaviors.

Several gaps in the literature exist regarding factors responsible for poor adherence to atorvastatin and their impact on efficacy outcomes, and further studies and training initiatives are required to resolve these issues.