This study linked national hospitalisation, mortality and pharmaceutical dispensing data for 11,348 patients aged 35–84 years discharged from a public hospital with an acute coronary syndrome in New Zealand in 2007. Patients were followed for 3 years, to describe patterns of statin use and predictors of poor maintenance. Within 90 days of discharge, 83% had received a statin. The proportions of patients who were adequately maintained on a statin (MPR ≥80%) were 69% in year 1 of follow-up, 67% in year 2 and 66% in year 3. Patients taking statins prior to admission and those who underwent a coronary procedure were 20–50% more likely to have a MPR ≥80% over 3 years than others. Patients aged 35–45 years and those of Māori or Pacific ethnicity were 13–25% less likely to have a MPR ≥80% than those aged 55–64 years and Europeans.
