Medication non-adherence and uncertainty: Information-seeking and processing in the Danish LIFESTAT survey

Background

Statins are widely prescribed to lower cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, statin non-adherence is very high.

Effect of statin on semen quality characteristics

Statins are lipid-lowering medications widely used to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Biochemically, they act by decreasing synthesis of cholesterol via inhibiting 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase. Since 1992, various research studies have investigated the effect of statins on semen quality characteristics; however, to date, there is no collective summary to such effect. Here, we have systematically discussed and abridged all research studies published in Scopus, PubMed and Web of Science databases that are directly linking statin to semen fertility characteristics using the keywords “statin” versus “sperm” and “semen”. In summary, considering the animal studies, statins, in general, were found to ameliorate semen quality characteristics in reproductive detrimental conditions, while, in human males or in in vivo systems with normal reproductive conditions, in general, statins showed negative to blunt effects against semen quality characteristics, mainly sperm motility. However, further research studies, in particular human studies, in this specific research setting is still needed to approve these effects.     

某院他汀类药物在2型糖尿病患者中的临床应用分析

目的 调查资阳市雁江区人民医院他汀类药物在2型糖尿病患者中的使用情况.方法 采取回顾性调查方法,抽取2013年1~6月内分泌代谢科使用他汀类药物调脂的141例患者,其中2型糖尿病患者125例.对其姓名、性别、年龄、体质量指数、糖尿病病程、他汀类药物种类、用法用量、诊断指标等进行描述和分析.结果 125例2型糖尿病患者使用他汀类药物调脂过程中,99.2%（124/125）用法用量符合药物使用标准,用药过程无相关严重不良反应发生,且使用阿托伐他汀钙片的患者较多,占47.2%（59/125）.结论 该院使用他汀类药物符合药物使用标准.     

The 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines for the treatment of dyslipidemia: mind the gaps!

The ACC/AHA lipid guidelines need to be reconsidered before full implementation. A new cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk estimation, preferably based in interventional multiethnic studies, will be ideal. Specific LDL-C targets may also be necessary because there are data pointing out that they are useful and pragmatic. The risk/benefit ratio should be a key issue because medicine is all about this concept (Hippocrates 460 – c. 370 BC: “first do not harm”; and then in the Hippocratic Oath: “I will follow that system of regimen which, according to my ability and judgment, I consider for the benefit of my patients, and abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous”).     

他汀类药物引起肝功能异常的系统评价

目的:系统评价他汀类药物引起肝功能异常的风险。方法:计算机检索中国生物医学文献数据库、中国期刊全文数据库、万方数据库、PubMed、EMBase、Medline、Cochrane Library、康健数据库中有关他汀类药物引起肝功能异常的随机对照试验(RCT),评价纳入研究的文献质量,提取有效数据后,采用Rev Man 5.0统计软件对数据进行Mate分析。结果:共纳入9项研究,合计9 084例患者。研究包含药物有辛伐他汀、阿托伐他汀、氟伐他汀、瑞舒伐他汀、洛伐他汀。Meta分析结果显示,使用他汀类药物治疗的患者肝功能异常发生率显著高于使用安慰剂治疗的患者,差异有统计学意义[OR=2.00,95%CI(1.23,3.25),P=0.005];并且他汀类药物高剂量组患者肝功能异常发生率显著高于低剂量组,差异亦有统计学意义[OR=1.84,95%CI(1.04,3.27),P=0.04]。结论:使用他汀类药物有引起患者肝功能异常的风险,且高剂量较易发生肝功能异常,临床应谨慎用药。由于纳入研究数量较少,该结论尚需大样本、高质量的RCT进一步证实。     

Rheumatoid Arthritis,Statin Indication and Lipid Goals: Analysis According to Different Recommendations

BackgroundDifferent strategies have been proposed for the cardiovascular risk management of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Objectives(1) To estimate the cardiovascular risk by different strategies in RA patients, analyzing which proportion of patients would be candidates to receive statin therapy; (2) to identify how many patients meet the recommended lipid goals.MethodsA cross-sectional study was performed from a secondary database. The QRISK-3 score, the Framingham score (adjusted for a multiplying factor × 1.5), the ASCVD calculator and the SCORE calculator were estimated. The indications for statin therapy according to NICE, Argentine Consensus, ACC/AHA, and new European guidelines were analyzed. The recommended LDL-C goals were analyzed.ResultsA total of 420 patients were included. In total, 24.7% and 48.7% of patients in primary and secondary prevention were receiving statins, respectively. Only 19.4% of patients with cardiovascular history received high intensity statins. Applying the ACC/AHA guidelines (based on ASCVD score), the Argentine Consensuses (based on adjusted Framingham score), the NICE guidelines (based on QRISK-3) and European recommendations (based on SCORE), 26.9%, 26.5%, 41.1% and 18.2% of the population were eligible for statin therapy, respectively. Following the new European recommendations, 50.0%, 46.2% and 15.9% of the patients with low-moderate, high or very high risk achieved the suggested lipid goals.ConclusionApplying four strategies for lipid management in our population, the cardiovascular risk stratification and the indication for statins were different. A significant gap was observed when comparing the expected and observed statin indication, with few patients achieving the LDL-C goals.     

Progression of chronic kidney disease: can it be prevented or arrested?

Chronic kidney disease constitutes a highly prevalent health problem worldwide. Left untreated, it progresses inexorably to greater levels of severity at variable rates. The morbid impact of chronic kidney disease is heightened by its role as risk factor for cardiovascular disease. In the past two decades, considerable gains have been realized in retarding progression of chronic kidney disease by emphasizing blood pressure control and blockade of the renin-angiotensin system. Notwithstanding, the therapeutic goal of preventing or arresting chronic kidney disease progression remains unfulfilled. Currently attainable rates of decrease in glomerular filtration rate remain at 2 to 8 mL/min/y depending on the underlying disease. It is now believed that to achieve optimal therapeutic targets (proteinuria of <500 mg/day and decrease in glomerular filtration rate of 1 mL/min/y, the average age-related decline) we must introduce novel strategies and a multifaceted approach to treatment that interrupts multiple mechanisms of progression. To this end, and wherever relevant, new approaches to cause-specific treatment must be applied, such as targeted immunosuppression, intensive glycemic control, gene therapy, and enzyme replacement therapy. Furthermore, in all chronic kidney disease, we must interfere more effectively with the multitude of common mechanisms of progression. Established or putative, such approaches include aggressive blood pressure control; advanced renin-angiotensin system blockade; cytokine modulation and antifibrotic therapy; aldosterone blockade; endothelin blockade, nitric oxide modulation and vasopeptidase inhibition; antioxidant therapy; statin therapy; glycosaminoglycan therapy; anemia therapy; dietary restrictions; lifestyle changes; and pharmacogenomic profiling. Such a concerted, multifaceted approach to management might indeed prevent or arrest progression of chronic kidney disease, or even achieve regression of chronic kidney disease.     

他汀类联合心血管药物治疗冠心病67例临床观察

目的：观察他汀类联合心血管药物治疗冠心病的临床效果。方法：选取本院2013年1-8月收治的134例冠心病患者,按照随机数字表法将其分为对照组和治疗组各67例。对照组给予常规心血管药物治疗,治疗组在此基础上联用他汀类药物进行治疗,观察比较两组患者的临床治疗效果及血脂改善情况。结果：经治疗,治疗组的总有效率明显优于对照组,比较差异有统计学意义（X2=9.307,P〈0.05）。对照组治疗前后的血脂改善情况比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）;治疗组治疗后的血脂指标TC、TG、HDL-C和LDL-C均明显低于治疗前及对照组,比较差异均有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。结论：在冠心病患者的临床治疗中,他汀类联合心血管药物治疗的疗效理想,血脂改善情况良好,值得在临床中进一步推广和应用。     

Prestroke Statins,Progression of White Matter Hyperintensities,and Cognitive Decline in Stroke Patients with Confluent White Matter Hyperintensities

Cerebral white matter hyperintensities (WMH) are a consequence of cerebral small vessel disease. Statins have been shown to reduce recurrent stroke among patients with various stroke subtypes, including lacunar stroke, which also arises from small vessel disease. In this study, we investigated the hypothesis that prestroke statin use would reduce the progression of WMH and/or cognitive decline among stroke patients with confluent WMH. Patients (n = 100) were participants of the VITAmins To Prevent Stroke magnetic resonance imaging substudy. All patients had confluent WMH on magnetic resonance imaging at baseline. Eighty-one patients completed the 2-year follow-up. We assessed general cognition and executive function using the mini-mental state examination and Mattis dementia rating scale–initiation/perseveration subscale, respectively. We compared the change in volume of WMH and cognition between prestroke statin use and prestroke nonstatin use groups. We also evaluated the effects of prestroke statin use on incident lacunes and microbleeds. The prestroke statin use group (n = 51) had less WMH volume progression (1.54 ± 4.52 cm³vs 5.01 ± 6.00 cm³, p = 0.02) compared with the prestroke nonstatin use group (n = 30). Multivariate linear regression modeling identified prestroke statin use as an independent predictor of WMH progression (β = –0.31, p = 0.008). Prestroke statin use was also associated with less decline (Mattis dementia rating scale–initiation/perseveration subscale; β = 0.47, p = 0.001). No association was observed with changes in mini-mental state examination scores. There were no between group differences on incident lacunes or incident microbleeds. Prestroke statin use may reduce WMH progression and decline in executive function in stroke patients with confluent WMH.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s13311-014-0270-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.