Practice variation in a longitudinal perspective: a multilevel analysis of the prescription of simvastatin in general practices between 2003 and 2009

摘要

The Dutch national guideline for Cardiovascular Risk Management advised in 2006 initiation of statin therapy in new patients with simvastatin. After the introduction of this guideline several measures were taken to increase the prescription of simvastatin in general practice. The aim of this paper is to describe the trend and interpractice variation in the relative share of simvastatin in statin prescription over a 7-year period (2003–2009) in Dutch general practices.