CommercialSeptember 1, 2021
Statin therapy for patients with diabetes
Adults 40–75 years of age with diabetes, who do or do not have clinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), should be started on a statin for primary and secondary prevention of ASCVD regardless of lipid status.1
Studies show that statin use reduces comorbidities and mortality from heart disease and
non-adherence to statins may increase cardiovascular events and even death.2
Clinicians play a powerful role in ensuring their patients are adherent to their statin therapies.
In fact, 90% of patients can be successfully adherent to statin therapy with a personalized approach.
We created this video to offer clinicians best practices in helping their patients remain adherent to their statin therapies.
The following seven strategies can help increase adherence to statin therapy in your patients:
1. Initiate statin therapy for patients with diabetes or clinical ASCVD as appropriate
- For diabetics without ASCVD, use MODERATE INTENSITY statin for primary prevention.2
- For diabetics with ASCVD, use HIGH INTENSITY statin for secondary prevention.1
- Low Intensity statins are not recommended unless unable to tolerate moderate or high intensity.4
Medications One of the following medications must have be dispensed to satisfy the SUPD measure. |
|
Drug Category |
Medications |
Statin medication |
Lovastatin Fluvastatin Pravastatin Simvastatin Rosuvastatin Atorvastatin Pitavastatin |
Statin combination products |
Atorvastatin / amlodipine Atorvastatin / ezetimibe Lovastatin / niacin Simvastatin / ezetimibe Simvastatin / niacin Simvastatin / sitagliptin |
Timeframe |
Standard exclusion(s) |
Any time during the measurement year |
End-stage renal disease Hospice Rhabdomyolysis or myopathy Pregnancy, lactation, or fertility Liver disease Pre-diabetes Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) |
2. If a statin is not suitable for a patient, document exclusion criteria with the appropriate
ICD-10 code
3. Educate patients about the long-term cardiovascular benefits of statin therapy and
potential side effects
4. Try a lower dose, different statin, or consider intermittent statin therapy if there were
previous statin-associated side effects
Intensity and Dose of Statin Therapy |
||
High Intensity |
Moderate Intensity |
Low Intensity |
Daily dose lowers LDL-C on average by ≈ ≥50% |
Daily dose lowers LDL-C on average by ≈ 30% to <50% |
Daily dose lowers LDL-C on average by <30% |
Atorvastatin 40-80 mg Rosuvastatin 20-40 mg |
Atorvastatin 10-20 mg Rosuvastatin 5-10 mg Simvastatin 20-40 mg Pravastatin 40-80 mg Lovastatin 40 mg Fluvastatin XL 80 mg Fluvastatin 40 mg bid Pitavastatin 2-4 mg |
Simvastatin 10 mg Pravastatin 10-20 mg Lovastatin 20 mg Fluvastatin 20-40 mg Pitavastatin 1 mg |
5. Inform patients that a significant number of generic statin medications are available
for $0 for a 90-day supply on most plans
6. Encourage patients to use their plan ID card to fill statin medications
7. Watch this video to learn best practices on helping improve statin therapy adherence
and your organization’s overall quality and STARS performance.
PUBLICATIONS: September 2021 Anthem Provider News - Kentucky
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Visit https://providernews.anthem.com/kentucky/articles/statin-therapy-for-patients-with-diabetes-5-8572
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