UNDERUTILIZATION OF STATINS AND OTHER LIPID LOWERING THERAPIES AMONG HIGH-RISK CARDIOVASCULAR PATIENTS IN NIGERIA: A NATIONAL CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
Authors & Affiliations
Olumide Akinniyi Akinyele1, Akinyele Taofiq Akinlade2, Tajudin Adesegun Adetunji3, Oladimeji Adebayo4, Stella Chinyelu Alagbe5, Sebastine Oseghae Oiwoh6, Yekeen Ayodele Ayoola7, Tolulope Taiwo Shogade8, Opeyemi Olalekan Oni9, Umar Faruk Abdullahi10, Francisca Olufunmilayo Inofomoh11, Yakubu Lawal12, Adenike Christianah Enikuomehin13, Osahon Otaigbe 14, Oluwatosin Ruth Ilori15, Yusuf Idris Abiola16, Dapo Sunday Oyedepo17, Tijani Idris Ahmad Oseni18, Atinuke Oluwabukola Kalada Richard19, Joel Olufunminiyi Akande20, Emmanuel Ovundah Nyeche21, Adebimpe Olukemi Yusuf22, Ahidiyu Anaryu Mamza23, Oladimeji Adedeji Junaid24, Bolade Folasade Dele-Ojo25, Damilola Adeyinka Akinfaderin26, Oluseyi Ademola Adejumo27, Adeseye Abiodun Akintunde28.
📖 Abstract Content
Lipid lowering therapies (LLT), particularly statins, are recommended in established high cardiovascular risk patients. However, national data on LLT utilization remain limited despite growing cardiovascular disease burden. We evaluated prevalence, pattern, and determinants of statin use among high-risk cardiovascular patients in Nigeria.
We conducted a national cross-sectional study through the Nigeria Clinical Lipid Research (NiCLiR) Network across 15 secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities between August 2025 and May 2026. Adults (≥18 years) with established high-risk cardiovascular conditions, were consecutively recruited during routine outpatient visits. Standardized case report forms captured demographic, clinical, and treatment data. Multivariable logistic regression identified factors associated with statin use, reported as adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
Among 1,470 participants, (mean age was 57.3 ± 14.5 years; 46.2% male), 536 (36.6%) received statins. Among statin users, atorvastatin was the most prescribed statin (54.3%), followed by rosuvastatin (28.9%) and simvastatin (17.7%); 23.5% received high-intensity statins. Non-statin LLT combination (0.34%) was rare. Increasing age (aOR 1.013; 95% CI 1.005–1.021; p = 0.002), hypertension (aOR 0.286 for no vs. yes; 95% CI 0.191–0.429; p < 0.001), and family history of diabetes mellitus (aOR 0.417 for no vs. yes; 95% CI 0.298–0.582; p < 0.001) were independently associated with statin use.
LLT use among high-risk cardiovascular patients was low, with limited use of high-intensity statins. These findings highlight gaps in evidence-based lipid management and support interventions to improve risk-based prescribing, and guideline implementation
