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Are
the elderly getting the drugs they need?
Clinnix, 17th April 2003
Older
patients may be missing out on heart drugs
Doctors are often
failing to prescribe drugs that cut heart attacks and stroke,
particularly to elderly patients, according to a UK study.
The research, which appears in the journal Heart, looked at how many times
doctors prescribed the drugs, called statins,
between 1994 and 2001. Each year, the researchers analyzed the records of
about 30,000 patients who were being treated for narrowed and blocked
arteries.
During the study period, there was a huge increase in the number of
prescriptions for statins, although prescribing patterns varied around the
country. However, the researchers, from St George's Hospital Medical
School, in London, found that only 56% of eligible men and 41% of eligible
women had been prescribed the drugs at the end of 2001.
Age rather than social factors appeared to be most influential in
determining whether patients were prescribed a statin. Patients under the
age of 75 were more likely to be prescribed statins than those over that
age. In 2001 only a third of 75 to 84 year olds and only 5% of those older
than 85 were prescribed the drugs.
Patients with angina were three times less likely to be prescribed statins
than patients who had undergone coronary artery bypass surgery, despite
the fact they are also susceptible to a heart attack if not treated.
Although doctors are prescribing more statins than five years ago, the
researchers say, 'there is room for improvement in a number of areas'.
And despite the hope that the National Service Framework (NSF) on coronary
artery disease will address the needs of people with angina and the
variations in prescribing practices, the researchers warn that the elderly
are still likely to miss out.
A spokesperson for the British Heart Foundation (BHF) said that the study
was worrying in light of the fact that statins have been found to reduce
mortality and morbidity.
'Despite clear recommendations set out by the NSF in 2000, many health
professionals remain uncertain about the ideal time that people should be
receiving statin therapy. The BHF will soon be producing a patient's guide
to the NSF which will allow patients and health professionals to have a
better understanding of when statins should be taken,' she said.
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© 2002 Global Action on Aging
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