Diabetes: lipid-lowering therapies for secondary prevention of CVD

Indicator

The percentage of patients with diabetes and a history of cardiovascular disease (excluding a history of haemorrhagic stroke) who are currently treated with a lipid-lowering therapy.

Resource impact

The previous indicator IND184 was as follows:

The percentage of patients with diabetes and a history of cardiovascular disease (excluding a history of haemorrhagic stroke) who are currently treated with a statin.

Indicator IND276 updates and replaces IND184 and expands the lipid-lowering therapies in the indicator beyond statins.

NICE’s guideline on cardiovascular disease recommends treatment is started with atorvastatin 80 mg for this group of people while highlighting situations where a lower dose should be used. Alternative lipid-lowering therapies may be considered if statins are contraindicated or not tolerated, or cholesterol treatment targets are not met.

This indicator therefore widens the lipid-lowering therapies in the indicator and is not expected to lead to a significant change in clinical practice. Any associated resource impact is therefore unlikely to be significant.