Consumer behavior in the setting of OTC statin availability

Main Category: Statins
Article Date: 30 Dec 2004 - 0:00 PDT

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Lessons from the consumer use study of OTC Mevacor -

Despite the proven benefits of statins, large numbers of patients meeting guideline criteria for therapy are not receiving these drugs.

It has been suggested that over-the-counter (OTC) availability of statins would allow more consumers to use statins and achieve cardiovascular risk reduction. However, concerns have been raised as to the consumers' ability to self-manage hyperlipidemia and use statins safely.

The Consumer Use Study of OTC Mevacor (CUSTOM) was designed to define consumer behaviors in the setting of OTC statin availability. The study was conducted in a simulated OTC setting and allowed consumers to purchase once-daily lovastatin 20 mg. The CUSTOM dataset includes >3,300 consumers who evaluated OTC lovastatin for potential purchase at study sites and follow-up information on purchasers for up to 6 months of self-managed therapy.

These data have been analyzed to address consumers' knowledge of their cholesterol concentrations as well as their ability to make OTC use decisions based on their cardiovascular risk, avoid drug-drug interactions, self-manage their cholesterol treatment after deciding to use the OTC product, and maintain interactions with physicians while using lovastatin OTC.

The results showed that most study participants appropriately self-selected OTC statin therapy and managed their treatment. Use of OTC statins by consumers needing more intensive statin therapy or facing the risk of potential drug-drug interactions remains an area of concern but occurred infrequently in CUSTOM.

These data are important for making an informed risk-benefit decision concerning OTC statin availability.

SOURCE: American Journal of Cardiology 2004 Nov 4; 94(9A): 22F-29F

To contact the principal investigator of the study, Eric Brass, M.D., Ph.D, please call David Feuerherd at 310-215-0234 / 310-222-2820 or e-mail him at df@issuesmanagement.com.

LA BioMed Medical/Research briefs - January 2005
Contact: David Feuerherd
df@issuesmanagement.com
310-215-0234
Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (LA BioMed)

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