Socioeconomic and ethnic differences in use of lipid-lowering drugs after deregulation of XXXX in the UK: the Whitehall II prospective cohort study.

@entity1 @entity1605 @entity3413 @entity301
BACKGROUND: We examined socioeconomic and ethnic differences in use of lipid-lowering drugs after deregulation of @entity3413 in the UK for adults with moderate or high risk of @entity301 . METHODS: 3631 @entity1 in the @entity1605 (mean age 62.7 years, 91% white) were informed of their risk of @entity301 , based on Framingham score, before deregulation (2002-2004). The use of prescribed lipid-lowering drugs and use of over-the-counter @entity3413 were analysed as outcome variables, after deregulation (2005-2007). RESULTS: 2451 @entity1 were at high risk and 1180 at moderate risk. 20% moderate-risk and 44% high-risk @entity1 reported using prescribed lipid-lowering drugs although no over-the-counter @entity3413 was used. Prescribing rates did not differ between employment grades (an index of socioeconomic position), but was higher among South Asian high-risk compared with White high-risk @entity1 (odds ratio 1.64, 95% CI 1.21-2.23). Of the high-risk @entity1 , 44% recalled their increased @entity301 risk. South Asian high-risk @entity1 were less likely to recall than White high-risk @entity1 (odds ratio 0.65, 95% CI 0.46-0.93). Furthermore, high risk @entity1 with middle (odds ratio 0.74, 95% CI 0.61-0.89) and low (odds ratio 0.52, 95% CI 0.37-0.74) employment grades were less likely to recall than those with high grades. CONCLUSION: Socioeconomic and ethnic differences in reported use of lipid-lowering drugs were small, but the use of these drugs in general was much lower than recommended and the @entity1 did not utilise over-the-counter statins. Ethnic minorities and lower socioeconomic position groups were less likely to be aware of their increased coronary risk.
