The use of structured data elements to identify ASCVD patients with statin-associated side effects: Insights from the Department of Veterans Affairs

Salim S. Virani, Julia M. Akeroyd, Sarah T. Ahmed, Chayakrit Krittanawong, Lindsey A. Martin, Jason Slagle, Glenn T. Gobbel, Michael E. Matheny, Christie M. Ballantyne, Laura A. Petersen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Accurate identification of patients with statin-associated side effects (SASEs) is critical for health care systems to institute strategies to improve guideline-concordant statin use. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine whether adverse drug reaction (ADR) entry by clinicians in the electronic medical record can accurately identify SASEs. Methods: We identified 1,248,214 atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) patients seeking care in the Department of Veterans Affairs. Using an ADR data repository, we identified SASEs in 15 major symptom categories. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were assessed using a chart review of 256 ASCVD patients with identified SASEs, who were not on high-intensity statin therapy. Results: We identified 171,189 patients (13.71%) with documented SASEs over a 15-year period (9.9%, 2.7%, and 1.1% to 1, 2, or >2 statins, respectively). Statin use, high-intensity statin use, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and non–high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were 72%, 28.1%, 99 mg/dL, and 129 mg/dL among those with vs 81%, 31.1%, 84 mg/dL, and 111 mg/dL among those without SASEs. Progressively lower statin and high-intensity statin use, and higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and non–high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were noted among those with SASEs to 1, 2, or >2 statins. Two-thirds of SASEs were related to muscle symptoms. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV compared with manual chart review were 63.4%, 100%, 100%, and 85.3%, respectively. Conclusion: A strategy of using ADR entry in the electronic medical record is feasible to identify SASEs with modest sensitivity and NPV but high specificity and PPV. Health care systems can use this strategy to identify ASCVD patients with SASEs and operationalize efforts to improve guideline-concordant lipid-lowering therapy use in such patients. The sensitivity of this approach can be further enhanced by the use of unstructured text data.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)797-803.e1
JournalJournal of Clinical Lipidology
Volume13
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Sept 2019
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Adverse drug reaction
  • Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease
  • Electronic medical record
  • Statin-associated side effects
  • Statins

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The use of structured data elements to identify ASCVD patients with statin-associated side effects: Insights from the Department of Veterans Affairs'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this