Adherence to antithrombotic therapy guidelines improves mortality among elderly patients with atrial fibrillation: insights from the REPOSI study

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with a substantial risk of thromboembolism and mortality, significantly reduced by oral anticoagulation. Adherence to guidelines may lower the risks for both all cause and cardiovascular (CV) deaths. Methods: Our objective was to evaluate if antithrombotic prophylaxis according to the 2012 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines is associated to a lower rate of adverse outcomes. Data were obtained from REPOSI; a prospective observational study enrolling inpatients aged ≥65 years. Patients enrolled in 2012 and 2014 discharged with an AF diagnosis were analysed. Results: Among 2535 patients, 558 (22.0 %) were discharged with a diagnosis of AF. Based on ESC guidelines, 40.9 % of patients were on guideline-adherent thromboprophylaxis, 6.8 % were overtreated, and 52.3 % were undertreated. Logistic analysis showed that increasing age (p = 0.01), heart failure (p = 0.04), coronary artery disease (p = 0.013), peripheral arterial disease (p = 0.03) and concomitant cancer (p = 0.003) were associated with non-adherence to guidelines. Specifically, undertreatment was significantly associated with increasing age (p = 0.001) and cancer (p < 0.001), and inversely associated with HF (p = 0.023). AF patients who were guideline adherent had a lower rate of both all-cause death (p = 0.007) and CV death (p = 0.024) compared to those non-adherent. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that guideline-adherent patients had a lower cumulative risk for both all-cause (p = 0.002) and CV deaths (p = 0.011). On Cox regression analysis, guideline adherence was independently associated with a lower risk of all-cause and CV deaths (p = 0.019 and p = 0.006). Conclusions: Non-adherence to guidelines is highly prevalent among elderly AF patients, despite guideline-adherent treatment being independently associated with lower risk of all-cause and CV deaths. Efforts to improve guideline adherence would lead to better outcomes for elderly AF patient

Sex-Differences in the Pattern of Comorbidities, Functional Independence, and Mortality in Elderly Inpatients: Evidence from the RePoSI Register

Background: The RePoSi study has provided data on comorbidities, polypharmacy, and sex dimorphism in hospitalised elderly patients. Methods: We retrospectively analysed data collected from the 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016 data sets of the RePoSi register. The aim of this study was to explore the sex-differences and to validate the multivariate model in the entire dataset with an expanded follow-up at 1 year. Results: Among 4714 patients, 51% were women and 49% were men. The disease distribution showed that diabetes, coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic kidney disease, and malignancy were more frequent in men but that hypertension, anaemia, osteoarthritis, depression, and diverticulitis disease were more common in women. Severity and comorbidity indexes according to the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS-s and CIRS-c) were higher in men, while cognitive impairment, mood disorders, and disability in daily life measured by the Barthel Index (BI) were worse in women. In the multivariate analysis, BI, CIRS, and malignancy significantly increased the risk of death in men at the 1-year follow-up, while age was independently associated with mortality in women. Conclusions: Our study highlighted the relevance and the validity of our previous predictive model in the identification of sex dimorphism in hospitalised elderly patients underscoring the need of sex-personalised health-care

Therapeutic Duplicates in a Cohort of Hospitalized Elderly Patients: Results from the REPOSI Study

Background: Explicit criteria for potentially inappropriate prescriptions in the elderly are recommended to avoid prescriptions of duplicate drug classes and to optimize monotherapy within a single drug class before a new agent is considered. Duplicate drug class prescription (or therapeutic duplicates) puts the patient at increased risk of adverse drug reactions with no additional therapeutic benefits. To our knowledge, the prevalence of elderly inpatients receiving therapeutic duplicates has never been studied. Objectives: Our objective was to assess the prevalence of therapeutic duplicates at admission, discharge, and 3-month follow-up of hospitalized elderly patients. Methods: This cross-sectional prospective study was conducted in 97 Italian internal medicine and geriatric wards. Therapeutic duplicates were defined as at least two drugs of the same therapeutic class prescribed simultaneously to a patient. A patient’s drug therapy at admission relates to prescriptions from general practitioners, whereas prescriptions at discharge are those from hospital internists or geriatricians. Results: The study sample comprised 5821 admitted and 4983 discharged patients. In all, 143 therapeutic duplicates were found at admission and 170 at discharge. The prevalence of patients exposed to at least one therapeutic duplicate rose significantly from hospital admission (2.5 %) to discharge (3.4 %; p = 0.0032). Psychotropic drugs and drugs for peptic ulcer or gastroesophageal reflux disease were the most frequently involved. A total of 86.8 % of patients discharged with at least one therapeutic duplicate were still receiving them at 3-month follow-up. Conclusions: Hospitalization and drugs prescribed by internists and geriatricians are both factors associated with a small but definite increase in overall therapeutic duplicates in elderly patients admitted to internal medicine and geriatric wards. More attention should be paid to the indications for each drug prescribed, because therapeutic duplicates are not supported by evidence and increase both the risk of adverse drug reactions and costs. Identification of unnecessary therapeutic duplicates is essential for the optimization of polypharmacy

Adherence to antithrombotic therapy guidelines improves mortality among elderly patients with atrial fibrillation: insights from the REPOSI study

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with a substantial risk of thromboembolism and mortality, significantly reduced by oral anticoagulation. Adherence to guidelines may lower the risks for both all cause and cardiovascular (CV) deaths. Methods: Our objective was to evaluate if antithrombotic prophylaxis according to the 2012 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines is associated to a lower rate of adverse outcomes. Data were obtained from REPOSI; a prospective observational study enrolling inpatients aged 6565&nbsp;years. Patients enrolled in 2012 and 2014 discharged with an AF diagnosis were analysed. Results: Among 2535 patients, 558 (22.0&nbsp;%) were discharged with a diagnosis of AF. Based on ESC guidelines, 40.9&nbsp;% of patients were on guideline-adherent thromboprophylaxis, 6.8&nbsp;% were overtreated, and 52.3&nbsp;% were undertreated. Logistic analysis showed that increasing age (p&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.01), heart failure (p&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.04), coronary artery disease (p&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.013), peripheral arterial disease (p&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.03) and concomitant cancer (p&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.003) were associated with non-adherence to guidelines. Specifically, undertreatment was significantly associated with increasing age (p&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.001) and cancer (p&nbsp;&lt;&nbsp;0.001), and inversely associated with HF (p&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.023). AF patients who were guideline adherent had a lower rate of both all-cause death (p&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.007) and CV death (p&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.024) compared to those non-adherent. Kaplan\u2013Meier analysis showed that guideline-adherent patients had a lower cumulative risk for both all-cause (p&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.002) and CV deaths (p&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.011). On Cox regression analysis, guideline adherence was independently associated with a lower risk of all-cause and CV deaths (p&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.019 and p&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.006). Conclusions: Non-adherence to guidelines is highly prevalent among elderly AF patients, despite guideline-adherent treatment being independently associated with lower risk of all-cause and CV deaths. Efforts to improve guideline adherence would lead to better outcomes for elderly AF patients

Adherence to antithrombotic therapy guidelines improves mortality among elderly patients with atrial fibrillation: insights from the REPOSI study

333noneBackground: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with a substantial risk of thromboembolism and mortality, significantly reduced by oral anticoagulation. Adherence to guidelines may lower the risks for both all cause and cardiovascular (CV) deaths. Methods: Our objective was to evaluate if antithrombotic prophylaxis according to the 2012 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines is associated to a lower rate of adverse outcomes. Data were obtained from REPOSI; a prospective observational study enrolling inpatients aged ≥65 years. Patients enrolled in 2012 and 2014 discharged with an AF diagnosis were analysed. Results: Among 2535 patients, 558 (22.0 %) were discharged with a diagnosis of AF. Based on ESC guidelines, 40.9 % of patients were on guideline-adherent thromboprophylaxis, 6.8 % were overtreated, and 52.3 % were undertreated. Logistic analysis showed that increasing age (p = 0.01), heart failure (p = 0.04), coronary artery disease (p = 0.013), peripheral arterial disease (p = 0.03) and concomitant cancer (p = 0.003) were associated with non-adherence to guidelines. Specifically, undertreatment was significantly associated with increasing age (p = 0.001) and cancer (p < 0.001), and inversely associated with HF (p = 0.023). AF patients who were guideline adherent had a lower rate of both all-cause death (p = 0.007) and CV death (p = 0.024) compared to those non-adherent. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that guideline-adherent patients had a lower cumulative risk for both all-cause (p = 0.002) and CV deaths (p = 0.011). On Cox regression analysis, guideline adherence was independently associated with a lower risk of all-cause and CV deaths (p = 0.019 and p = 0.006). Conclusions: Non-adherence to guidelines is highly prevalent among elderly AF patients, despite guideline-adherent treatment being independently associated with lower risk of all-cause and CV deaths. Efforts to improve guideline adherence would lead to better outcomes for elderly AF patients.Proietti, M.; Nobili, A.; Raparelli, V.; Napoleone, L.; Mannucci, P.M.; Lip, G.Y.H.; Pasina, L.; Franchi, C.; Tettamanti, M.; Eldin, T.K.; Di Blanca, M.P.D.; Djade, C.D.; Ardoino, I.; Cortesi, L.; Marengoni, A.; Licata, G.; Violi, F.; Corazza, G.R.; Biolo, G.; Guarnieri, G.; Zanetti, M.; Fernandes, G.; Vanoli, M.; Grignani, G.; Casella, G.; Bernardi, M.; Bassi, S.L.; Santi, L.; Zaccherini, G.; Mannarino, E.; Lupattelli, G.; Bianconi, V.; Paciullo, F.; Nuti, R.; Valenti, R.; Ruvio, M.; Cappelli, S.; Palazzuoli, A.; Salvatore, T.; Sasso, F.C.; Girelli, D.; Olivieri, O.; Matteazzi, T.; Barbagallo, M.; Plances, L.; Alcamo, R.; Licata, G.; Calvo, L.; Valenti, M.; Zoli, M.; Arnò, R.; Pasini, F.L.; Capecchi, P.L.; Bicchi, M.; Palasciano, G.; Modeo, M.E.; Peragine, M.; Pappagallo, F.; Di Gennaro, C.; Postiglione, A.; Barbella, M.R.; De Stefano, F.; Cappellini, M.D.; Fabio, G.; Seghezzi, S.; De Amicis, M.M.; Mari, D.; Rossi, P.D.; Ottolini, B.B.; Miceli, E.; Lenti, M.V.; Padula, D.; Murialdo, G.; Marra, A.; Cattaneo, F.; Secchi, M.B.; Ghelfi, D.; Anastasio, L.; Sofia, L.; Carbone, M.; Damanti, S.; Guagnano, M.T.; Sestili, S.; Mancuso, G.; Calipari, D.; Bartone, M.; Meroni, M.R.; Perin, P.C.; Lorenzati, B.; Gruden, G.; Bruno, G.; Amione, C.; Fornengo, P.; Tassara, R.; Melis, D.; Rebella, L.; Pretti, V.; Masala, M.S.; Bolondi, L.; Rasciti, L.; Serio, I.; Fanelli, F.R.; Amoroso, A.; Molfino, A.; Petrillo, E.; Zuccalà, G.; Franceschi, F.; De Marco, G.; Chiara, C.; Marta, S.; Romanelli, G.; Amolini, C.; Chiesa, D.; Picardi, A.; Gentilucci, U.V.; Gallo, P.; Annoni, G.; Corsi, M.; Zazzetta, S.; Bellelli, G.; Arturi, F.; Succurro, E.; Rubino, M.; Sesti, G.; Loria, P.; Becchi, M.A.; Martucci, G.; Fantuzzi, A.; Maurantonio, M.; Carta, S.; Atzori, S.; Serra, M.G.; Bleve, M.A.; Gasbarrone, L.; Sajeva, M.R.; Brucato, A.; Ghidoni, S.; Di Corato, P.; Agnelli, G.; Marchesini, E.; Fabris, F.; Carlon, M.; Baritusso, A.; Manfredini, R.; Molino, C.; Pala, M.; Fabbian, F.; Boari, B.; De Giorgi, A.; Paolisso, G.; Rizzo, M.R.; Laieta, M.T.; Rini, G.; Mansueto, P.; Pepe, I.; Borghi, C.; Strocchi, E.; De Sando, V.; Sabbà, C.; Vella, F.S.; Turatto, F.; Valerio, R.bg, Capobianco, C.; Fenoglio, L.; Bracco, C.; Giraudo, A.V.; Testa, E.; Serraino, C.; Fargion, S.; Bonara, P.; Periti, G.; Porzio, M.; Peyvandi, F.; Tedeschi, A.; Rossio, R.; Monzani, V.; Savojardo, V.; Folli, C.; Magnini, M.; Gobbo, G.; Balduini, C.L.; Bertolino, G.; Provini, S.; Quaglia, F.; Dallegri, F.; Ottonello, L.; Liberale, L.; Chin, W.S.; Carassale, L.; Caporotundo, S.; Traisci, G.; De Feudis, L.; Di Carlo, S.; Liberato, N.L.; Buratti, A.; Tognin, T.; Bianchi, G.B.; Giaquinto, S.; Purrello, F.; Di Pino, A.; Piro, S.; Conca, A.; Falanga, L.; Montrucchio, G.; Greco, E.; Tizzani, P.; Petitti, P.; Perciccante, A.; Coralli, A.; Salmi, R.; Gaudenzi, P.; Gamberini, S.; Semplicini, A.; Gottardo, L.; Vendemiale, G.; Serviddio, G.; Forlano, R.; Masala, C.; Mammarella, A.; Basili, S.; Perri, L.; Landolfi, R.; Montalto, M.; Mirijello, A.; Vallone, C.; Bellusci, M.; Setti, D.; Pedrazzoli, F.; Guasti, L.; Castiglioni, L.; Maresca, A.; Squizzato, A.; Molaro, M.; Bertolotti, M.ce, Mussi, C.; Libbra, M.V.; Miceli, A.; Pellegrini, E.; Carulli, L.; Sciacqua, A.; Quero, M.; Bagnato, C.; Corinaldesi, R.; De Giorgio, R.; Serra, M.; Grasso, V.; Ruggeri, E.; Salvi, A.; Leonardi, R.; Grassini, C.; Mascherona, I.; Minelli, G.; Maltese, F.; Gabrielli, A.; Mattioli, M.; Capeci, W.; Martino, G.P.; Messina, S.; Ghio, R.; Favorini, S.; Col, A.D.; Minisola, S.; Colangelo, L.; Afeltra, A.; Alemanno, P.; Marigliano, B.; Castellino, P.; Blanco, J.; Zanoli, L.; Cattaneo, M.; Fracasso, P.; Amoruso, M.V.; Saracco, V.; Fogliati, M.; Bussolino, C.; Durante, V.; Eusebi, G.; Tirotta, D.; Mete, F.; Gino, M.; Cittadini, A.; Arcopinto, M.; Salzano, A.; Bobbio, E.; Marra, A.M.; Sirico, D.; Moreo, G.; Scopelliti, F.; Gasparini, F.; Cocca, M.; Nieves, R.D.; Alberto, M.M.; Pedro, A.R.; Vanessa, L.P.; Lara, T.; Xavier, C.V.; Francesc, F.; Jesus, D.M.; Esperanza, B.T.; Behamonte Esther, D.C.; Maria, S.P.; Romero, M.; Blanca, P.L.; Cristina, L.G.-C.; Victoria, V.G.M.; Saez, L.; Bosco, J.; Susana, S.B.; Marta, A.G.; Concepcion, G.B.; Antonio, F.M.; Hernandez, M.G.; Borrego, M.P.; Raquel, P.C.; Florencia, P.R.; Beatriz, G.O.; Sara, C.G.; Cervellera Alfonso, G.-C.; Marta, P.M.; Alberto, R.C.; Antonio, A.A.; Montserrat, G.G.; Miguel Ángel, B.R.; Manuel, M.J.; Ignacio, N.V.; Lucía, A.S.; Alfonso, L.; David, R.B.; Iria, I.V.; Monica, R.P.; On behalf of REPOSI investigatorsProietti, M.; Nobili, A.; Raparelli, V.; Napoleone, L.; Mannucci, P. M.; Lip, G. Y. H.; Pasina, L.; Franchi, C.; Tettamanti, M.; Eldin, T. K.; Di Blanca, M. P. D.; Djade, C. D.; Ardoino, I.; Cortesi, L.; Marengoni, A.; Licata, G.; Violi, F.; Corazza, G. R.; Biolo, G.; Guarnieri, G.; Zanetti, M.; Fernandes, G.; Vanoli, M.; Grignani, G.; Casella, G.; Bernardi, M.; Bassi, S. L.; Santi, L.; Zaccherini, G.; Mannarino, E.; Lupattelli, G.; Bianconi, V.; Paciullo, F.; Nuti, R.; Valenti, R.; Ruvio, M.; Cappelli, S.; Palazzuoli, A.; Salvatore, T.; Sasso, F. C.; Girelli, D.; Olivieri, O.; Matteazzi, T.; Barbagallo, M.; Plances, L.; Alcamo, R.; Licata, G.; Calvo, L.; Valenti, M.; Zoli, M.; Arnò, R.; Pasini, F. L.; Capecchi, P. L.; Bicchi, M.; Palasciano, G.; Modeo, M. E.; Peragine, M.; Pappagallo, F.; Di Gennaro, C.; Postiglione, A.; Barbella, M. R.; De Stefano, F.; Cappellini, M. D.; Fabio, G.; Seghezzi, S.; De Amicis, M. M.; Mari, D.; Rossi, P. D.; Ottolini, B. B.; Miceli, E.; Lenti, M. V.; Padula, D.; Murialdo, G.; Marra, A.; Cattaneo, F.; Secchi, M. B.; Ghelfi, D.; Anastasio, L.; Sofia, L.; Carbone, M.; Damanti, S.; Guagnano, M. T.; Sestili, S.; Mancuso, G.; Calipari, D.; Bartone, M.; Meroni, M. R.; Perin, P. C.; Lorenzati, B.; Gruden, G.; Bruno, G.; Amione, C.; Fornengo, P.; Tassara, R.; Melis, D.; Rebella, L.; Pretti, V.; Masala, M. S.; Bolondi, L.; Rasciti, L.; Serio, I.; Fanelli, F. R.; Amoroso, A.; Molfino, A.; Petrillo, E.; Zuccalà, G.; Franceschi, F.; De Marco, G.; Chiara, C.; Marta, S.; Romanelli, G.; Amolini, C.; Chiesa, D.; Picardi, A.; Gentilucci, U. V.; Gallo, P.; Annoni, G.; Corsi, M.; Zazzetta, S.; Bellelli, G.; Arturi, F.; Succurro, E.; Rubino, M.; Sesti, G.; Loria, P.; Becchi, M. A.; Martucci, G.; Fantuzzi, A.; Maurantonio, M.; Carta, S.; Atzori, S.; Serra, M. G.; Bleve, M. A.; Gasbarrone, L.; Sajeva, M. R.; Brucato, A.; Ghidoni, S.; Di Corato, P.; Agnelli, G.; Marchesini, E.; Fabris, F.; Carlon, M.; Baritusso, A.; Manfredini, R.; Molino, C.; Pala, M.; Fabbian, F.; Boari, B.; De Giorgi, A.; Paolisso, G.; Rizzo, M. R.; Laieta, M. T.; Rini, G.; Mansueto, P.; Pepe, I.; Borghi, C.; Strocchi, E.; De Sando, V.; Sabbà, C.; Vella, F. S.; Turatto, F.; Valerio, ; R., Bg; Capobianco, C.; Fenoglio, L.; Bracco, C.; Giraudo, A. V.; Testa, E.; Serraino, C.; Fargion, S.; Bonara, P.; Periti, G.; Porzio, M.; Peyvandi, F.; Tedeschi, A.; Rossio, R.; Monzani, V.; Savojardo, V.; Folli, C.; Magnini, M.; Gobbo, G.; Balduini, C. L.; Bertolino, G.; Provini, S.; Quaglia, F.; Dallegri, F.; Ottonello, L.; Liberale, L.; Chin, W. S.; Carassale, L.; Caporotundo, S.; Traisci, G.; De Feudis, L.; Di Carlo, S.; Liberato, N. L.; Buratti, A.; Tognin, T.; Bianchi, G. B.; Giaquinto, S.; Purrello, F.; Di Pino, A.; Piro, S.; Conca, A.; Falanga, L.; Montrucchio, G.; Greco, E.; Tizzani, P.; Petitti, P.; Perciccante, A.; Coralli, A.; Salmi, R.; Gaudenzi, P.; Gamberini, S.; Semplicini, A.; Gottardo, L.; Vendemiale, G.; Serviddio, G.; Forlano, R.; Masala, C.; Mammarella, A.; Basili, S.; Perri, L.; Landolfi, R.; Montalto, M.; Mirijello, A.; Vallone, C.; Bellusci, M.; Setti, D.; Pedrazzoli, F.; Guasti, Luigina; Castiglioni, L.; Maresca, ANDREA MARIA; Squizzato, Alessandro; Molaro, M.; Bertolotti, ; M., Ce; Mussi, C.; Libbra, M. V.; Miceli, A.; Pellegrini, E.; Carulli, L.; Sciacqua, A.; Quero, M.; Bagnato, C.; Corinaldesi, R.; De Giorgio, R.; Serra, M.; Grasso, V.; Ruggeri, E.; Salvi, A.; Leonardi, R.; Grassini, C.; Mascherona, I.; Minelli, G.; Maltese, F.; Gabrielli, A.; Mattioli, M.; Capeci, W.; Martino, G. P.; Messina, S.; Ghio, R.; Favorini, S.; Col, A. D.; Minisola, S.; Colangelo, L.; Afeltra, A.; Alemanno, P.; Marigliano, B.; Castellino, P.; Blanco, J.; Zanoli, L.; Cattaneo, M.; Fracasso, P.; Amoruso, M. V.; Saracco, V.; Fogliati, M.; Bussolino, C.; Durante, V.; Eusebi, G.; Tirotta, D.; Mete, F.; Gino, M.; Cittadini, A.; Arcopinto, M.; Salzano, A.; Bobbio, E.; Marra, A. M.; Sirico, D.; Moreo, G.; Scopelliti, F.; Gasparini, F.; Cocca, M.; Nieves, R. D.; Alberto, M. M.; Pedro, A. R.; Vanessa, L. P.; Lara, T.; Xavier, C. V.; Francesc, F.; Jesus, D. M.; Esperanza, B. T.; Behamonte Esther, D. C.; Maria, S. P.; Romero, M.; Blanca, P. L.; Cristina, L. G. C.; Victoria, V. G. M.; Saez, L.; Bosco, J.; Susana, S. B.; Marta, A. G.; Concepcion, G. B.; Antonio, F. M.; Hernandez, M. G.; Borrego, M. P.; Raquel, P. C.; Florencia, P. R.; Beatriz, G. O.; Sara, C. G.; Cervellera Alfonso, G. C.; Marta, P. M.; Alberto, R. C.; Antonio, A. A.; Montserrat, G. G.; Miguel Ángel, B. R.; Manuel, M. J.; Ignacio, N. V.; Lucía, A. S.; Alfonso, L.; David, R. B.; Iria, I. V.; Monica, R. P.; On behalf of REPOSI, Investigator

Prevalence and Determinants of the Use of Lipid-Lowering Agents in a Population of Older Hospitalized Patients: the Findings from the REPOSI (REgistro POliterapie Societ\ue0 Italiana di Medicina Interna) Study

Background: Older patients are prone to multimorbidity and polypharmacy, with an inherent risk of adverse events and drug interactions. To the best of our knowledge, available information on the appropriateness of lipid-lowering treatment is extremely limited. Aim: The aim of the present study was to quantify and characterize lipid-lowering drug use in a population of complex in-hospital older patients. Methods: We analyzed data from 87 units of internal medicine or geriatric medicine in the REPOSI (Registro Politerapie della Societ\ue0 Italiana di Medicina Interna) study, with reference to the 2010 and 2012 patient cohorts. Lipid-lowering drug use was closely correlated with the clinical profiles, including multimorbidity markers and polypharmacy. Results: 2171 patients aged >65\ua0years were enrolled (1057 males, 1114 females, mean age 78.6\ua0years). The patients treated with lipid-lowering drugs amounted to 508 subjects (23.4%), with no gender difference. Atorvastatin (39.3%) and simvastatin (34.0%) were the most widely used statin drugs. Likelihood of treatment was associated with polypharmacy ( 655\ua0drugs) and with higher Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS) score. At logistic regression analysis, the presence of coronary heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, and hypertension were significantly correlated with lipid-lowering drug use, whereas age showed an inverse correlation. Diabetes was not associated with drug treatment. Conclusions: In this in-hospital cohort, the use of lipid-lowering agents was mainly driven by patients\u2019 clinical history, most notably the presence of clinically overt manifestations of atherosclerosis. Increasing age seems to be associated with lower prescription rates. This might be indicative of cautious behavior towards a potentially toxic treatment regimen