Factors associated with statin treatment for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in people within 2 years following diagnosis of diabetes in Scotland, 2006-2008

Aim To describe characteristics associated with statin prescribing for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in people with newly diagnosed diabetes. Methods Data from the Scottish Care Information—Diabetes Collaboration data set for 2006–2008 were used. This data set contains socio‐demographic and prescribing data for over 99% of people with diagnosed diabetes in Scotland. Analyses were conducted on people aged over 40 years diagnosed with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes between 2006 and 2008 with complete data and no previous history of cardiovascular or statin prescription. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios for statin prescription in the 2 years following diagnosis of diabetes. Results There were 7157 men and 5601 women who met the inclusion criteria, 68% of whom had a statin prescription recorded in the 2 years following diagnosis of diabetes. The proportions receiving statins were lower above 65 years of age in men and 75 years of age in women. People with Type 1 diabetes had lower odds of receiving statins than people with Type 2 diabetes [odds ratio (95% CI) 0.42 (0.29–0.61) for men and 0.48 (0.28–0.81) for women, after adjustment for age, BMI, smoking status, cholesterol level and deprivation]. Higher total cholesterol, BMI and being a current smoker were associated with greater odds of statin prescription. Conclusion Approximately one third of the study population had no record of statin prescription during the 2 years after diagnosis of diabetes. Cardiovascular disease risk reduction opportunities may be missed in some of these people. What's new? This article reports the first use of Scottish Care Information – Diabetes Collaboration project data to examine which factors are associated with statin prescription in people during the first 2 years after diagnosis with diabetes in Scotland. The results suggest that guidelines for the universal use of statins among people with diabetes were not being followed during the study period and that, as a result, opportunities to reduce cardiovascular disease risk were missed. Decision support systems that prompt clinicians of risk reduction strategies could improve adherence to guidelines.