Hyperlipidemia Pharmacotherapy in Skilled Nursing Facilities: A Real-World Evidence Study
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Objectives
To estimate hyperlipidemia medication order prevalence and associated variables in U.S. skilled nursing facility (SNF) residents.
Design
Retrospective, observational study.
Setting and Participants
Electronic Health Record data from 447,080 SNF residents with a hyperlipidemia diagnosis identified in PointClickCare’s Life Sciences clinical database (January-April 2025) were reviewed.
Methods
The presence and absence of medication orders for hyperlipidemia treatments recommended by the American Heart Association were assessed. Descriptive analyses summarized demographic and clinical characteristics, and a modified Poisson regression model was used to estimate risk ratios for having a medication order, adjusting for demographic, clinical, and facility characteristics.
Results
Overall, 83.3% of residents diagnosed with hyperlipidemia had at least one hyperlipidemia medication order. Statins were ordered by 96.2% of active order residents, while other medication classes i.e., omega-3 fatty acids, cholesterol absorption inhibitors, fibrates were less common (<8%). Risk ratios (RRs) for medication orders ranged from 0.87-1.16. Factors most strongly associated with having an order included hypertension medication orders (RR=1.16), unspecified hyperlipidemia diagnosis (RR=1.10), and active diabetes medication orders (RR=1.09); female sex (RR=0.95) and private (0.94) or other (0.87) payer types were associated with a lower likelihood of having an order.
Conclusions and Implications
Most residents with a hyperlipidemia diagnosis had an active relevant medication order, but use of non-statin therapies was rare. Differences in treatment patterns by sex and payer type, along with limited uptake of newer agents, warrant further investigation into prescribing practices and access within SNFs.
Brief Summary
Most SNF residents with hyperlipidemia had relevant medication orders; non-statin use was rare, and differences observed in prescribing patterns by sex and payer warrant further study.
