Impact of therapeutic inertia in lipid-lowering therapy in patients at very high cardiovascular risk

Abstract

Aims

A high number of patients do not achieve the therapeutic goals set by clinical practice guidelines, despite the therapeutic alternatives that currently exist in lipid-lowering treatment (LLT). This study aimed to estimate the proportion of patients who have recently suffered an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who do not meet the therapeutic goal with LLT and the proportion of routine follow-up visits where therapeutic inertia (TI) occurs.

Methods

A retrospective study chart review was conducted in 13 Spanish centres. Patients aged ≥18 years who suffered an ACS event in the last two years and had received LLT were included. Sociodemographic, clinical, treatment and participating centre/physician-related variables were collected. TI was considered when a visit did not result in a change in the patient's therapy despite the non-achievement of therapeutic goals. Descriptive analysis was performed, and factors associated with TI were evaluated using logistic regression.

Results

159 patients were included (mean age 63.08 years old, 80.5% male) and 338 follow-up visits were analysed. Over 50% of the patients did not meet the therapeutic target and TI was estimated in 39.13% of visits. Some factors were associated with a lower risk of TI: professional experience, number of vessels affected, and diabetes. And others with higher risk: being female, previous CV pathology and a complete revascularisation.

Conclusion

The management of patients after ACS is still suboptimal. The importance of clinical inertia in ACS remains a real awareness and active strategies will help mitigate this phenomenon due to the risk of recurrent ACS.