Findings from University of Alabama Provides New Data about LDL Lipoproteins (Insurance, self-reported medication adherence and LDL cholesterol: The…

Findings from University of Alabama Provides New Data about LDL Lipoproteins (Insurance, self-reported medication adherence and LDL cholesterol: The REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke study)

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Weekly News -- Current study results on Proteins - LDL Lipoproteins have been published. According to news reporting originating from Birmingham, Alabama, by VerticalNews correspondents, research stated, "Lack of health insurance may adversely impact medication adherence and the control of cardiovascular risk factors. We examined if the association between insurance and LDL-C is due to self-reported low medication adherence."

Financial support for this research came from Department of Health and Human Service.

Our news editors obtained a quote from the research from the University of Alabama, "This cross-sectional study included 8685 black and whitemen and women aged 45 and older who participated in the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) cohort and used statins. Medication adherence was assessed using the 4-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-4). Mean differences in LDL-C between participants with and without insurance were calculated using generalized linear models before and after adjustment for MMAS-4. Subgroups stratified by age, annual household income, diabetes, and CHD were compared. Separately, individual MMAS-4 questions were examined for mediation effects. After multivariable adjustment but without MMAS-4, LDL-C was 2.5 mg/dL (95% CI -0.6, 5.6) higher among uninsured versus insured participants. After further adjustment for MMAS-4, LDL-C was 2.6 mg/dL (95% CI -0.5, 5.6) higher. Stratified analyses produced similar results. No mediating effect was observed when each MMAS-4 question was examined separately."

According to the news editors, the research concluded: "High medication adherence does not mediate the association between having health insurance and lower LDL-C."

For more information on this research see: Insurance, self-reported medication adherence and LDL cholesterol: The REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke study. International Journal of Cardiology, 2017;236():462-465. International Journal of Cardiology can be contacted at: Elsevier Ireland Ltd, Elsevier House, Brookvale Plaza, East Park Shannon, Co, Clare, 00000, Ireland. (Elsevier - www.elsevier.com; International Journal of Cardiology - www.journals.elsevier.com/international-journal-of-cardiology/)

The news editors report that additional information may be obtained by contacting E.B. Levitana, Univ Alabama Birmingham, Dept. of Epidemiol, Birmingham, AL 35294, United States. Additional authors for this research include M.M. Safford, P. Muntner, R.W. Durant, T.M. Brown and M. Mefford.

Keywords for this news article include: Birmingham, Alabama, United States, North and Central America, Health Insurance, Risk and Prevention, LDL Lipoproteins, LDL Cholesterol, Proteins, University of Alabama.

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