More Drugs and Fewer Strokes? Time Trends in CVD Medication and Incidence of Stroke With German Health Insurance Data

Background: Successful prevention of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) may reduce the burden of diseases. Preventive medication is an important measure to decrease the risks of cardiovascular events, in particular myocardial infarction and stroke. The aim of this study is to analyze the prevalence of CVD preventive medication in Germany over time with respect to sex and age and to compare it with the temporal development of strokes.

Methods: The study is based on statutory health insurance claims data from the AOK Niedersachsen (AOKN) covering the years 2005-2018. The study population comprises all AOKN insured persons aged 18 years and older (N = 2 088 495). Age-standardized time trends of the prevalence of CVD preventive medication and incidence of stroke were calculated for men and women in different age groups. After that, the relationship of both measures was examined in an ecological correlation.

Results: We found a clear increase in medication prevalence over time. In 2018, about 35% of the total population and about 85% of those over 85 years of age received CVD preventive medication. At the same time, age-standardized incidence rates of ischemic stroke were decreasing slightly. The ecological correlation showed a negative association between medication prevalence and stroke incidence especially in the higher age groups.

Conclusion: High correlation coefficients indicate that higher medication prevalence could be linked to better population health. Further research is needed to draw conclusions about the effects of increasing medicalization, including adverse risks and side effects at the population level.