Patient Preference and Adherence (Jan 2024)
Older Adult Perspectives on Statin Continuation and Discontinuation in Primary Cardiovascular Disease Prevention: A Mixed-Methods Study
Abstract
Laureline Brunner,1 Blandine Mooser,1,2 Anne Spinewine,3,4 Nicolas Rodondi,1,2 Carole Elodie Aubert1,2 1Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; 2Department of General Internal Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; 3Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Clinical Pharmacy Research Group, Brussels, Belgium; Department of Pharmacy, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) UCL Namur, Yvoir, Belgium; 4Clinical Pharmacy Research Group, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, BelgiumCorrespondence: Carole Elodie Aubert, Department of General Internal Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Anna-von-Krauchthal Weg 7, Bern, CH-3010, Switzerland, Tel +41 31 632 03 98, Email [email protected] and Purpose: Evidence for statin use for primary cardiovascular disease prevention in older adults is limited. When evidence on risk-benefit profile of a medication is uncertain, using it or not becomes a preference-sensitive decision. We aimed to assess and explore patient perspectives on continuation and discontinuation of statins used for primary cardiovascular prevention in older adults.Patients and Methods: We used a convergent mixed-methods design, conducting in parallel a survey among 47 patients and three focus groups (FGs) with 14 patients total. We recruited patients aged ≥ 65 years and taking a statin for primary cardiovascular prevention. The survey and FGs aimed to assess and explore patient experiences of statin use, and views on statin continuation and discontinuation, including patient decision-making. Quantitative and qualitative data were first analyzed separately – descriptive statistics for quantitative data and thematic analysis for qualitative data – and then integrated to create metainferences, using joint displays.Results: Forty-one percent of patients (N=19) were reluctant to discontinue the statin, whereas 22% (N=10) were willing to try discontinuing it. A reason to continue the statin was its perceived necessity, while self-estimated low cardiovascular risk and wish to reduce medication burden were given as reasons to discontinue it. Lack of expertise assumed by the patients to decide about statin continuation or discontinuation, uncertainty about statin indication, and fear of having a cardiovascular event after discontinuation made many patients uncertain about deciding to continue or discontinue the statin. In this context, 70% (N=33) would rather have their physician choose for them, and 94% (N=44) would continue taking the statin for as long as their physician told them to do so.Conclusion: This study highlights factors that influence patient willingness to continue or discontinue statins, patient uncertainty about statin continuation or discontinuation, and the important role physicians play in the decision-making process.Keywords: barriers, facilitators, primary care providers, statins
