OBJECTIVES: Controlling LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) can reduce atherosclerotic risk. However, not all available therapies are equally effective and safe, or use the same route of administration. Involving patients and considering their preferences in treatment decision-making can help treatment success. The main goal was to assess patients’ and healthcare professionals’ (HCP) preferences regarding the characteristics (attributes) of lipid-lowering therapies.

METHODS: A discrete choice experiment (DCE) was conducted to determine participants’ preferences. A literature review and two focus groups (patients=4; HCP=8) were conducted to identify the attributes and levels to be included in the DCE; five attributes (safety, medication collection location, LDL-C reduction, prevention of cardiovascular problems, route of administration) with 2-3 levels each were included, resulting in 36 scenarios. The relative importance (RI) given to each attribute was estimated using a conditional logit model.

RESULTS: A total of 42 patients and 89 HCP participated in the study. A third of the patients were women with a mean age of 55.6 years. The most common atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease was myocardial infarction (47.6%) and the most common treatment received was atorvastatin (61.1%). Regarding HCP (primary care: 16.9%; cardiology: 16.9%; neurology: 16.9%: internal medicine: 15.7%; nursing: 16.9%; clinical pharmacy: 16.9%), 42.7% were women, with a mean professional experience of 23.9 years. Most of the HCP (76.4%) worked in hospitals with >300 beds. The estimated RI were: safety: Patients: 24.0%, HCP: 10.2%; medication collection location: Patients: 12.1%, HCP: 9.5%; LDL-C reduction: Patients: 26.8%, HCP: 31.6%; prevention of cardiovascular problems: Patients: 26.8%, HCP: 37.7%; and route of administration: Patients: 10.3%, HCP: 10.9%.

CONCLUSIONS: When selecting a lipid-lowering treatment, patients valued similarly efficacy (LDL-C reduction and prevention of cardiovascular problems) and safety, while HCP considered efficacy the most important attribute, followed by route of administration. The results of the study can contribute to improve decision-making.