Predictors of Nonuse of a High‐Potency Statin After an Acute Coronary Syndrome: Insights From the Stabilization of Plaques Using Darapladib‐Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction 52 (SOLID‐TIMI 52) Trial

Background High‐potency statins reduce cardiovascular events after acute coronary syndromes but remain underused in clinical practice. We examined predictors of nonuse of high‐potency statins after acute coronary syndromes. Methods and Results The Stabilization of pLaques usIng Darapladib‐Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (SOLID‐TIMI 52) trial enrolled patients after an acute coronary syndrome in 36 countries between 2009 and 2011. Statin use was strongly encouraged throughout the trial, and statin potency was at the discretion of the treating physician. A high‐potency statin was defined as ≥40 mg atorvastatin, ≥20 mg rosuvastatin, or 80 mg simvastatin daily. Predictors of nonuse of high‐potency statins were examined using logistic regression. Of the patients included (n=12 446), 11 850 (95.2%) were treated with a statin at baseline after acute coronary syndrome (median 14 days), but only 5212 (41.9%) were on a high‐potency statin. Selected patient factors associated with nonuse of high‐potency statins included age ≥75 years (odds ratio 1.39, 95% CI 1.24–1.56), female sex (odds ratio 1.11, 95% CI 1.02–1.22), renal dysfunction (odds ratio 1.17, 95% CI 1.03–1.32), and heart failure during hospital admission (odds ratio 1.43, 95% CI 1.27–1.62). At 3 months after baseline, only 49% of patients had low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol