Treatment pathways of lipid-lowering therapies in Germany 2016-2022.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Despite the availability of effective LDL cholesterol (LDL-C)-lowering drugs, only a minority of patients achieves the guideline-recommended treatment targets. This analysis describes treatment pathways of lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) in Germany.

Methods

Health claims data were used to identify patients at high or very-high cardiovascular risk who received a LLT prescription 2016-2022. Treatment pathways and the time to switch or discontinue LLT were analysed for statins, ezetimibe, bempedoic acid (BA), and PCSK9 inhibitors (PCSK9i).

Results

Out of 3,487,827 insured persons, 247,529 met the inclusion criteria. The most frequent first-line LLT were statins in 96.3%. Ezetimibe, BA, and PCSK9i were first-line LLT in only 0.9%, 0.061%, and 0.046%, respectively.

SUBMITTER: Katzmann JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12823755 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature