Selective prescribing of simvastatin and atorvastatin by patient characteristics at treatment initiation over a 7-year period in Finland - UTU Research Portal

A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Selective prescribing of simvastatin and atorvastatin by patient characteristics at treatment initiation over a 7-year period in Finland

Authors: Halava H, Helin-Salmivaara A, Junnila J, Huupponen R

Publisher: SPRINGER

Publication year: 2009

Journal: European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology

Journal name in source: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY

Journal acronym: EUR J CLIN PHARMACOL

Volume: 65

Issue: 9

First page : 927

Last page: 933

Number of pages: 7

ISSN: 0031-6970

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00228-009-0664-1

Abstract

Channelling of atorvastatin over simvastatin toward the younger and healthier population was found during the first 4 years after its launch in Finland. Channelling may lead to confounding by indication, which must be taken into account when designing pharmacoepidemiology studies on statins.