Statins in High Cardiovascular Risk Patients: Do Comorbidities and Characteristics Matter?

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Pharmacology
• Public Health

Background:

• Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) remains a leading cause of death globally, despite declining rates in high-income nations.
• Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is a major modifiable risk factor for ASCVD.
• Statins are primary agents for LDL-C reduction and cardiovascular risk mitigation, yet are often under-prescribed or under-dosed due to perceived side effect risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and analyze current indications for initiating or continuing statin therapy.
• To personalize statin treatment strategies based on varying cardiovascular risk levels.
• To address the complexity of managing comorbidities in high-risk patient populations.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of current clinical guidelines and evidence.
• Analysis of statin therapy indications across diverse patient risk categories.
• Consideration of patient comorbidities and individual risk profiles.

Main Results:

• Treatment intensity for statins should align with increasing cardiovascular risk.
• Shared decision-making is essential for initiating statin therapy.
• Personalized treatment plans are necessary for optimal outcomes in complex cases.

Conclusions:

• Optimizing statin therapy requires careful consideration of individual patient risk and comorbidities.
• Addressing physician concerns about side effects is key to improving statin utilization.
• Personalized approaches enhance the effectiveness of statin therapy in ASCVD prevention.