Statins for primary prevention in type 2 diabetes

At least 1 in 40 people in the UK have type 2 diabetes mellitus, and the prevalence is increasing. Such people are more likely than others to develop, and to die from, cardiovascular disease. Statin therapy helps to prevent cardiovascular disease events among patients at increased risk, with or without diabetes, and is standard treatment for patients needing secondary prevention. Here we discuss whether statins should be used routinely for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes irrespective of other risk factors.