Prevention & lipids

Secondary Prevention Medications in 17 Countries Grouped by Income Level (PURE)): A Prospective Cohort Study

J Am Coll CardiolPublished Repeated cross-sectional analysis of the PURE prospective cohort study

Authors' conclusion

Globally and in most country income-level groups, the use of medications for secondary CVD prevention has been low, with little improvement over time.

Study context

Population
Participants with CVD (CAD or stroke) in 17 high-, middle- and low-income countries7,409 at baseline
Exposure
Secondary CVD prevention medication use over time, by country income level
Outcome
Use of ≥1 class of secondary CVD prevention medications
Follow-up
Baseline and 4 visits (median 12 years)
Methodological detailsmultinational, 17 countries, median follow-up 12 years, Median age at baseline 58.0 years; 52.9% female, Median baseline year 2007; fifth visit 2019
  • Multinational
  • 17 countries
  • Median follow-up 12 years
  • Median age at baseline 58.0 years; 52.9% female
  • Median baseline year 2007; fifth visit 2019

Main finding

As reported in the abstract

Use of ≥1 class of secondary prevention medications, overall · baseline → peak → last visit

Overall use at baseline

41.3%

95% CI 40.2%–42.4%

Overall peak use

43.1%

95% CI 42.0%–44.1%

Overall use at last visit

31.3%

95% CI 30.4%–32.1%

Observational data: associations, not effects.

Further findings

OutcomeHigh-income countriesUpper-middle-income countriesLower-middle-income countriesLow-income countries
Use of ≥1 class of medications, by country income level · baseline → last visit
Baseline (95% CI 86.6%-91.0%)88.8%Not reported in the abstractNot reported in the abstractNot reported in the abstractUpper-middle-income countries, Lower-middle-income countries, Low-income countries: not reported in the abstract
Last visit (95% CI 74.9%-79.6%)77.3%Not reported in the abstractNot reported in the abstractNot reported in the abstractUpper-middle-income countries, Lower-middle-income countries, Low-income countries: not reported in the abstract
Baseline (95% CI 52.8%-57.3%)Not reported in the abstract55.0%Not reported in the abstractNot reported in the abstractHigh-income countries, Lower-middle-income countries, Low-income countries: not reported in the abstract
Last visit (95% CI 59.1%-63.1%)Not reported in the abstract61.1%Not reported in the abstractNot reported in the abstractHigh-income countries, Lower-middle-income countries, Low-income countries: not reported in the abstract
Baseline (95% CI 28.1%-30.9%)Not reported in the abstractNot reported in the abstract29.5%Not reported in the abstractHigh-income countries, Upper-middle-income countries, Low-income countries: not reported in the abstract
Peak (95% CI 30.4%-33.1%)Not reported in the abstractNot reported in the abstract31.7%Not reported in the abstractHigh-income countries, Upper-middle-income countries, Low-income countries: not reported in the abstract
Last visit (95% CI 12.5%-14.2%)Not reported in the abstractNot reported in the abstract13.4%Not reported in the abstractHigh-income countries, Upper-middle-income countries, Low-income countries: not reported in the abstract
Baseline (95% CI 18.1%-23.5%)Not reported in the abstractNot reported in the abstractNot reported in the abstract20.8%High-income countries, Upper-middle-income countries, Lower-middle-income countries: not reported in the abstract
Peak (95% CI 44.8%-49.9%)Not reported in the abstractNot reported in the abstractNot reported in the abstract47.3%High-income countries, Upper-middle-income countries, Lower-middle-income countries: not reported in the abstract
Last visit (95% CI 25.2%-29.9%)Not reported in the abstractNot reported in the abstractNot reported in the abstract27.5%High-income countries, Upper-middle-income countries, Lower-middle-income countries: not reported in the abstract

Original publication

Secondary Prevention Medications in 17 Countries Grouped by Income Level (PURE)): A Prospective Cohort Study. J Am Coll Cardiol. Published 11 February 2025. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2024.10.121

Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it

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