[Prescriptions of statins in the elderly according to the type of healthcare establishment: An example of the usefulness of territorial hospital groups]

The challenge of territorial hospital groups is to develop coherent care pathways for optimal patient care. Following the creation of a territorial pharmaceutical team, a common prescription review process was initiated in our health area. The objective of this study is to analyze the uses of statins in the elderly.The study included all statin-treated patients older than 75 years at the five participating institutions (including long-term nursing homes). In a prospective multicenter study, the benefit/risk ratio of statin prescription has been assessed up. Depending on the clinical situation, a proposal to stop or adjust the dosage could be made.Nine hundred and forty-seven patients were included. Among them, 184 were treated with a statin. Forty-seven patients (26%) are treated in primary prevention and 137 patients (74%) in secondary prevention. Dosages are lower for long stays. Fifteen treatments interruption were accepted out of 44 proposals, mostly for long stays. The reasons given to continue treatment are the need for a new evaluation by a cardiologist or a high cardiovascular risk.The variability of results according to the type healthcare institution makes territorial medical and pharmaceutical collaboration relevant. The challenge is to develop a coherent care pathway for optimal care of elderly patients, with congruent objectives.