Non-statins used to lower cholesterol levels include bile acid sequestrants, ezetimibe, and PCSK9 inhibitors.1 These are not first-line treatments for high cholesterol unlike statins. However, they may be recommended in addition to statins, under certain circumstances.
In the US, the use of non-statins is on the rise. Overall use of non-statins in adults 40 years and older was 2.5% (3 million patients) in 2002 – 2003.2 By 2012 – 2013, non-statin use increased to 5.6% (8 million). Statin use, by comparison, was 27.8% (39.2 million) by 2012 – 2013.3
References
- Grundy SM, Stone NJ, Bailey AL, et al. 2018 AHA/ACC/AACVPR/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/ADA/AGS/APhA/ASPC/NLA/PCNA Guideline on the management of blood cholesterol. Circulation 2018: Cir0000000000000625.
- Salami JA, Warraich HJ, Valero-Elizondo J, et al. National trends in non-statin use and expenditures among the US adult population from 2002 to 2013: insights from Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. J Am Heart Assoc 2018; 7 (2).
- Salami JA, Warraich H, Valero-Elizondo J, et al. National trends in statin use and expenditures in the US adult population from 2002 to 2013: insights from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. JAMA Cardiol 2017; 2 (1): 56-65.
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