Statin Therapy for Patients With Diabetes (SPD-E)

The percentage of persons 40–75 years of age during the measurement period with diabetes who do not have clinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and met the following criteria. Two rates are reported: 

  1. Received Statin Therapy. Persons who were dispensed at least one statin medication of any intensity during the measurement period.
  2. Statin Adherence 80%. Persons who remained on a statin medication of any intensity for at least 80% of the treatment period.

Why It Matters

Diabetes increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) by two to four times compared to those without diabetes 1. CVD is the current leading cause of death among those with diabetes, accounting for two-thirds of deaths among those with type 2 diabetes (T2D) 2. Often, diabetes increases risk to other cofactors that lead to an increased risk of heart disease including high blood pressure, too much low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high triglycerides 3. High LDL-C in the body leads to a buildup of plaque in the walls of blood vessels. Plaque buildup creates an increased risk for cardiovascular events. Individuals with diabetes and above 40 years of age are at an even higher risk of CVD.

Statins are a group of medications that lower LDL-C by blocking an enzyme in the liver that is needed to make cholesterol. The liver is then able to remove cholesterol from the blood, lowering the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) 4 5. Management of cholesterol levels has a direct effect on overall health as well as risk of CVD. Guidelines recommend that patients with diabetes above the age of 40 should adhere to statin therapy 4.

Historical Results – National Averages

Performance results for this measure are currently unavailable.

References

  1. Johns Hopkins Medicine. (2019, November 19). Diabetes and Heart Disease. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/diabetes/diabetes-and-heart-disease
  2. American Diabetes Association. (n.d.). Cardiovascular Disease | ADA. (n.d.). https://diabetes.org/diabetes/cardiovascular-disease
  3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, June 20). Diabetes and Your Heart. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/library/features/diabetes-and-heart.html
  4. Abukhalil, A. D., Alyan, M., AbuAita, W., Al-Shami, N., & Naseef, H. A. 2022. “Adherence to Clinical Guidelines on STATIN Prescribing Among Diabetic Patients Aged 40–75 Years Old in a Primary Care Setting: A Cross-Sectional Study.” Patient Preference and Adherence, 16, 1855–1863. https://doi.org/10.2147/PPA.S376000
  5. Mayo Clinic. Statin side effects: Weigh the benefits and risks. (2023, May 27). https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/in-depth/statin-side-effects/art-20046013

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