The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7205 p9
6 July 2002

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BMJ (bmj.com)

Asian patients miss out on cholesterol lowering drugs

Patients in general practices with a greater south Asian population are less likely to be prescribed lipid-lowering drugs than patients in practices with a higher proportion of white patients, a study in this week's issue of the BMJ shows (2002;325:25). This is despite south Asian patients being at a higher risk of coronary heart disease than white patients.

Mahendra Patel, School of Pharmacy, University of Bradford, and colleagues identified the proportion of south Asian patients at 62 general practices in one health authority in England. They then determined the number of daily doses of all lipid-lowering drugs prescribed to these patients.

Commenting on their finding, the researchers say: "This may be surprising given the higher cardiovascular morbidity and mortality among south Asian people in the United Kingdom and a possible need for lipid-lowering treatment that is equal to, if not greater than, that for the white population."

A standard assessment to determine the extent of unmet need and risk profiles at the level of the individual patient is required, the researchers conclude.