Letters
Discontinuation rates for use of statins are high
BMJ 2000; 321 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.321.7268.1084 (Published 28 October 2000) Cite this as: BMJ 2000;321:1084
- Leon A Simons, associate professor of medicine. (l.simons@notes.med.unsw.edu.au),
- Judith Simons, analyst programmer.,
- Peter McManus, secretary.,
- John Dudley, analyst programmer.
- University of NSW Lipid Research Department, St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia
- Drug Utilisation Subcommittee, Department of Health and Aged Care, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
EDITOR—Packham et al describe an almost fourfold increase in the use of statins between 1996 and 1998.1 The rationale for this treatment is well established,2 yet drug discontinuation rates are generally far lower in controlled trials than in routine care.3 We have conducted an Australia-wide assessment of discontinuation rates in patients newly prescribed lipid lowering drugs.
Using national prescription records, we identified 420 543 patients prescribed …
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