Patients on generic statins have better adherence to their medication and better clinical outcomes than those taking brand-name prescriptions, according to a study being published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
Statins are the most frequently prescribed drugs in the United States. When taken as prescribed, statins effectively reduce LDL cholesterol levels and cardiovascular events. However, some patients do not adhere to their medication regimen. Researchers studied health records for a cohort of more than 90,000 Medicare beneficiaries to determine whether patients are more adherent to generic statins versus brand-name statins and whether greater adherence improves health outcomes.
The research showed that, compared with those who initiated a brand-name statin, patients who initiated a generic statin had better adherence to their medication and an 8 percent lower rate of a composite endpoint that included cardiovascular events and death. The researchers conclude that lower out-of-pocket costs for patients improved adherence to therapy and improved clinical outcomes.
Research: Comparative Effectiveness of Generic and Brand-Name Statins on Patient Outcomes: A Cohort Study, J.J. Gagne, N.K. Choudhry, A.S. Kesselheim, J.M. Polinski, D. Hutchins, O.S. Matlin, T.A. Brennan, J. Avorn, and W.H. Shrank, Annals of Internal Medicine, published 15 September 2014.