Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40384513›Full record

Observational studyPharmacology research & perspectives2025

Trends in Lipid-Lowering Agent Consumption in Croatia: A 25-Year Observational Study.

Andrej Belančić, Marta Kučan Štiglić, Luka Prgomet, Ivan Pećin, Željko Reiner, Dinko Vitezić

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Pharmacology research & perspectives, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Observational
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Andrej BelančićDepartment of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine, Rijeka, Croatia.ORCID 0000-0001-7848-6600
Marta Kučan ŠtiglićDepartment of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine, Rijeka, Croatia.
Luka PrgometDepartment of Internal Medicine, Division of Metabolic Diseases, University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
Ivan PećinDepartment of Internal Medicine, Division of Metabolic Diseases, University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
Željko ReinerDepartment of Internal Medicine, Division of Metabolic Diseases, University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
Dinko VitezićDepartment of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine, Rijeka, Croatia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of mortality worldwide, with dyslipidemia as a major modifiable risk factor. This study aimed to assess 25-year trends in lipid-lowering agent consumption in Croatia from 2000 to 2023. We conducted a population-based analysis using IMS and IQVIA databases, calculating drug utilization in defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitants per day (DDD/1000) and evaluating financial expenditures and prescribing patterns. Over the study period, total lipid-lowering drug consumption increased more than 30-fold, from 4.91 DDD/1000 in 2000 to 152.56 DDD/1000 in 2023. Statins, particularly atorvastatin and rosuvastatin, drove this trend, while the uptake of PCSK9 inhibitors and ezetimibe reflected an evolving therapeutic landscape. Financial expenditures peaked in 2010, declined until 2015, and rose again by 2023, with average drug prices per DDD decreasing significantly. The observed increase in lipid-lowering therapy correlated with enhanced adherence to international guidelines and expanded patient access. However, administrative barriers and restrictive reimbursement policies continue to limit optimal utilization of newer agents. These findings underscore the importance of evidence-based policy development to address clinical inertia and improve cardiovascular outcomes in Croatia.

Indexed as

Drug UtilizationDyslipidemiasHypolipidemic AgentsPractice Patterns, Physicians'Cardiovascular DiseasesCroatiaDrug CostsFemaleHumansHydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase InhibitorsPCSK9 InhibitorsHydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase InhibitorsHypolipidemic AgentsPCSK9 Inhibitorscholesteroldyslipidemialipid‐lowering agentsstatins

Identifiers

PMID40384513
PMCPMC12086369

What OpenQuestion holds

Texttitle and abstract
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.