Physicians And Patients Nationwide Discuss Controversial Results Of Recent Cholesterol Lowering Study

Main Category: Cholesterol
Also Included In: Primary Care / General Practice;  Public Health
Article Date: 11 Apr 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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Sermo (http://www.sermo.com), the largest physician-only online community, today announced the results of a physician survey prompted by the swirl of media coverage following the release of ENHANCE trial data at the recent American College of Cardiology (ACC) conference. The focus of the study was on the effectiveness of frequently prescribed cholesterol-lowering drugs, Vytorin and Zetia. Hundreds of Physicians on Sermo have now discussed the study and related their perspective on the media's portrayal of the data presented. Physicians also indicated whether the data will change their prescribing habits for the drugs, and if they've experienced an increase in patients asking about the study.

In 24 hours, the Sermo survey(a) garnered hundreds of responses from physicians across all specialties. The data below breaks out the opinions of physicians who focus on treating high cholesterol, including cardiologists, internal medicine physicians, and family practitioners.

Are patients asking you about the ENHANCE Trial and the data surrounding it?

- 94% of physicians polled reported they are being asked about the data by patients "occasionally" to "very frequently."

Is the media portrayal on Vytorin and statins unwarranted based on the data that was presented at ACC?

- 75% of physicians responded "yes."

Since the ENHANCE Study results were released, how has this data affected your prescribing of Vytorin/Zetia?

- 54% of physicians polled said it would "not at all" change their prescribing habits

According to Eric Snyder, Senior Analyst at Mehta Partners, an independent health-care focused financial research firm, "If you read the media coverage that followed the ENHANCE Trial, you'd expect a significant reduction in Vytorin and Zetia prescriptions. The New York Times called the results "shocking" and an editorial in the New England Journal of Medicine advocated using Vytorin and Zetia as the last line of therapy, only in patients who cannot tolerate higher doses of other agents. Others went further, calling for a moratorium on the use of these drugs." Snyder continues, "Practicing physicians on Sermo took a clinically informed approach, weighing the results of this trial against their collective experience in treating patients. The majority concluded there is no need to change their prescribing habits."

Press and analysts interested in learning more about this survey can contact Sermo at sermo@perkettpr.com.

(a) This Sermo survey garnered responses from more than 230 practicing physicians and was conducted over a 2-day period between April 4th and 5th.

About Sermo

Launched in September 2006, Sermo is already the largest online physician community in the US, with 60,000 physician members. On Sermo, physicians exchange knowledge with each other and gain potentially life-saving insights directly from colleagues. Sermo harnesses the power of collective wisdom and enables physicians to discuss new clinical findings, report unusual events, and work together to improve patient care. Through its unique business model, Sermo is free to physicians and has no advertising or promotion.

http://www.sermo.com