Underprescribing of statin therapy in people with HIV at risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

PURPOSE: People with HIV (PWH) are at increased risk for developing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). The primary objective of this study was to evaluate adherence to guideline recommendations on statin use in PWH for both primary and secondary ASCVD prevention in a single healthcare institution. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed to evaluate statin use for cardiovascular risk reduction in PWH 40 to 75 years of age at an HIV clinic over a 1-year evaluation period. The study included patients who met one of the 4 criteria for statin therapy defined in the "ACC/AHA Guideline on the Treatment of Blood Cholesterol to Reduce Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Risk in Adults." Patient demographics were collected and a 10-year ASCVD risk score was calculated. RESULTS: A total of 432 PWH were evaluated for statin therapy; 205 patients (47.5%) met criteria for statin therapy. The majority of patients were male, the average age was 58 years, and the average time since HIV diagnosis was 19 years. The mean ASCVD risk score was 14.2%. Only 79 patients (38.5%) who met criteria were prescribed statin therapy, and only 45 (56.9%) were prescribed statin therapy of appropriate intensity. Use of ART pharmacokinetic enhancer was low and did not affect statin prescribing. Multivariable analysis found that age, diabetes, clinical ASCVD, and an appointment with a pharmacist clinician prescriber predicted statin utilization. A high ASCVD risk score (>20%) did not predict statin treatment. CONCLUSION: Statin prescribing is low in PWH, who are at increased risk for ASCVD. Future research in PWH should focus on improving ASCVD risk assessment and exploring causes for statin underprescribing.

Long-Acting Basal Insulins: A Review of the More Recently Approved Agents.

Long-acting basal insulins are used for the management of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Long-acting basal insulins were developed utilizing recombinant DNA technology and have been available since 2000 with the approval of insulin glargine U-100 followed by insulin detemir in 2005. In recent years, diabetes management has become more complex with the approval of insulin glargine U-300 and insulin degludec U-100 and U-200. Both insulin glargine U-300 and insulin degludec have been compared with insulin glargine U-100 and have demonstrated longer durations of action, as well as lower rates of hypoglycemia. This review discusses the Food and Drug Administration-approved long-acting insulins with a focus on recently approved agents and their efficacy and safety compared with the first long-acting basal insulins.