Associations of statin adherence and lipid targets with adverse outcomes in myocardial infarction survivors: a retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES: To examine associations between statin adherence and lipid target achievement in myocardial infarction (MI) survivors, and their associations with mortality and recurrent MIs. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study using linked clinical records within the National Health Service Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHS GGC) Data Safe Haven. SETTING: Routine clinical practice in the NHS GGC area between January 2009 and July 2017. PARTICIPANTS: Patients ≥18 years who experienced a non-fatal MI hospital admission (ICD10: I21, I22) between January 2009 and July 2014 (n=11 031), followed up from the date of MI admission until July 2017 or death, whichever occurred first. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Statin adherence was estimated using encashed prescriptions and lipid results from routine biochemistry data. Primary lipid and statin adherence targets were LDL ≤1.8 mmol/L and adherence ≥50%, and were related to all-cause death, deaths due to cardiovascular disease (CVD) (ICD10: I00–I99 as the underlying cause), and recurrent MI in unadjusted models and models adjusting for age, sex, socioeconomic deprivation and year of MI. RESULTS: Over 4.5 years follow-up, 76% achieved LDL ≤1.8 mmol/L, and 84.5% had average adherence ≥50%. Patients with adherence <50% had an increased risk of not meeting LDL ≤1.8 mmol/L, in adjusted models (OR 2.03, 95% CI 1.78 to 2.31, p<0.0001). In univariable models, not meeting LDL ≤1.8 mmol/L was associated with increased risks of all-cause mortality (HR 1.27, 95% CI 1.16 to 1.39, p<0.0001) and CVD mortality (HR 1.29, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.51, p=0.0013). Adherence <50% was associated with increased risks of all-cause mortality (HR 1.58, 95% CI 1.44 to 1.74, p<0.0001) and CVD mortality (HR 1.60, 95% CI 1.36 to 1.88, p<0.0001). Adjustment for confounders did not abrogate these associations. Neither exposure was associated with recurrent MIs. CONCLUSIONS: Non-achievement of lipid and adherence targets are associated with increased risks of all-cause and CVD mortality. Further work is required to optimise their use to improve outcomes in clinical practice.