The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 277 No 7421 p421
7 October 2006

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· The profession
· Messaging service
· Prescribing of statins
· NHS
· The Society
· Pfizer products (5)
· Statutory Committee (2)

Letters to the Editor

Prescribing of statins

Statin prescribing is actually increasing

From Mrs A. G. Riley, MRPharmS

The news article in the PJ of 23 September (p360) reporting a fall in the number of prescriptions for statins will, I suspect, have surprised most readers. As reported, the original paper on which the article was based was published in The Journal of Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety. It was suggested that a fall in the number of prescriptions for statins was associated with the availability of over-the-counter simvastatin. No data were provided on the number of sales for OTC simvastatin. Locally, sales of this drug have been almost non-existent and I suspect this is reflected nationally.

The authors of the original paper found a fall in the number of prescriptions for 10mg statins. I would argue it is inappropriate to look at 10mg doses of statins collectively because the different statins all have different potencies. In this primary care trust, we have seen a large increase in the use of simvastatin, particularly the 40mg strength, reflecting the large evidence base for this drug and the significant price reduction following the availability of generic simvastatin.

Overall, however, there has been an increase in the number of all prescriptions for statins, both locally and nationally. This increase was expected; the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance on statin therapy issued in January 2006 recommended that statin treatment be considered in all patients with a cardiovascular risk of 20 per cent or more over 10 years. This has resulted in significantly more patients being eligible for treatment.

The authors of the paper had obtained prescribing information from the General Practice Research Database. General practice databases are useful because they allow researchers to match prescribing to diagnosis. For accurate data on prescribing only, we have the information provided by the Prescription Pricing Division of the NHS Business Services Authority. This shows the expected increase in statin prescribing.

Genine Riley
Head of Medicines Management
Burntwood, Lichfield & Tamworth Locality
South Staffordshire Primary Care Trust

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