Statin Prescription Patterns and Associated Factors Among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Attending Diabetic Clinic at Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

PURPOSE: To determine statin prescription patterns and associated factors among type 2 diabetes patients attending the diabetic clinic at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A hospital-based cross-sectional study involving outpatients was conducted from September 2020 to November 2020. Statin prescription history (both type and dosage) was obtained from patients as well as from the electronic medical records for determination of patterns. Participants were categorized as moderate or high risk for cardiovascular disease whereas prescription patterns were categorized as moderate and high intensity statins. Logistic regression was used to examine association, control confounders and effect modifier whereby p <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Of 400 patients who were approached for the study, 395 (98.8%) were eligible for statin prescriptions. The mean (±SD) age of the study participants was 58.1±10.3 years, out of which 371 (93.9%) belonged to the age group ≥40 years. Two-thirds(241 61.0%) of the patients were female. About two-thirds(257; 69.4%) of patients had health insurance coverage. Statins were prescribed in 47.3% of the participants. Moderate intensity statin was the only pattern prescribed. In the adjusted model, insurance coverage (OR: 0.056; 95% CI: 0.03–0.12), and hypertension (OR: 0.259; 95% CI: 0.12–0.54) were associated with an increased likelihood of being prescribed a moderate intensity statin. CONCLUSION: A significant number of patients at MNH diabetic clinic were not on statins despite qualifying for the prescription. The findings call for further studies on reasons for low statin prescription practices in this tertiary facility.