Despite cardiovascular disease being the leading cause of mortality across the globe, many low- and middle-income countries have lower use of preventative medications for cardiovascular disease, according to a research letter published Feb. 6 in JACC.

JingJing Z. Zhu, BA, et al., analyzed individual-level data from representative health surveys conducted between 2013 and 2019 in low- and middle-income countries to examine the extent that preventative medications are used. A total of 40 countries were included, and eligible patients were 40 to 69 years old, and self-reported use of statins, BP-lowering drugs, and aspirin.

Results showed that of the 95,137 patients in the sample pool, 3.7% (95% CI: 3.5%-4.0%) were eligible for primary prevention and 9.8% (95% CI:9.4%-10.3%) for secondary prevention. For both primary and secondary prevention groups, medication use was less than one-third for each drug category, while more than one-half of eligible individuals were not taking any of the three recommended drugs.

The authors note that their findings have similar results to the PURE study, which showed a “large and persistent treatment gap” in the use of drug therapy to prevent cardiovascular disease. Zhu adds that “further research, investment, and political mobilization are needed for multilevel implementation of strategies to increase the accessibility and affordability of evidence-based CVD preventive drugs” if we wish to meet the United Nations Development Goal to reduce the risk of premature death to noncommunicable disease by 30% by 2030.

Clinical Topics: Cardiovascular Care Team, Dyslipidemia, Geriatric Cardiology, Nonstatins, Novel Agents, Statins

Keywords: Costs and Cost Analysis, Goals, Noncommunicable Diseases, Cardiovascular Diseases, Aspirin, Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors, Aged, Middle Aged, Adult, ACC International

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