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Heart
disease is one of the leading killers in America, along
with cancer. Each year, more than half a million people
die from the disease.
Statins
_ along with blood-pressure medicines like beta blockers
_ are critical because they reduce risk factors that
cause heart disease. Statins cut cholesterol production
in the liver and boost the organ's ability to remove
a ``bad'' cholesterol known as LDL.
The
study also called for a renewed emphasis on how lifestyle
factors, including exercise and diet, can reduce heart
disease risks. Cholesterol checks are also important
for adults.
Dr.
Randall Stafford, associate professor of medicine at
the Stanford Prevention Research Center and senior author
of the study, said risk-lowering lifestyle changes are
still overlooked.
``The
problem is that we have not been effective at turning
this evidence into practice,'' he said.
The
study is apparently the first to examine how statin
therapy varies according to the risk of heart disease
among U.S. outpatients.
Researchers
examined two national databases that track outpatient
visits to hospitals and physicians between 1992 and
2002, and medications prescribed or renewed during the
visits.
The
researchers compared results with the number of patients
who had been diagnosed with high cholesterol levels
and varying degrees of risk for heart disease.
Among
patients with high cholesterol in moderate and high-risk
groups, researchers found fewer than half of patient
visits in 2002 ended with a statin recommendation. Use
of these drugs overall grew during the decade, but doctors
said the drugs were still underused, in particular among
moderate-risk patients.
``If
compared to the number of patients who would benefit
from these drugs, the degree of increase is less than
what we'd expect,'' Ma said.
The
study was funded by Merck Co., which manufactures statins
Zocor and Mevacor, and by the Agency for Healthcare
Research and Quality.
Dr.
Kanu Chatterjee, a cardiologist and medical professor
at the University of California, San Francisco, agreed
with the findings. He said earlier studies have documented
how statins are underused among blacks in the United
States and among Europeans.
``There
is no question that statins show a tremendous benefit
in reducing the rates of heart attack and potentially
the risk of strokes,'' said Chatterjee, who was not
involved with the study.
___
On
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www.med.stanford.edu
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