Task force updates statin use guidance: 3 recommendations

The task force made three recommendations for individuals ages 40 to 75 without clinical cardiovascular disease with low-density lipoprotein lower than 190 mg/dL and without known familial hypercholesterolemia:

1. Individuals with an estimated 10-year cardiovascular disease event risk of 10 percent or higher and at least one risk factor are likely to have moderate benefit from a moderate-intensity statin.
2. Individuals with an estimated 10-year cardiovascular disease event risk of 7.5 percent to less than 10 percent and at least one risk factor are likely to experience small net benefit from a moderate-intensity statin; clinicians should engage patients in decision-making.
3. There is insufficient evidence to assess the net harms and benefits of statins in adults 76 and older, regardless of estimated 10-year cardiovascular disease event risk or risk factors.

The task force made three recommendations for individuals ages 40 to 75 without clinical cardiovascular disease with low-density lipoprotein lower than 190 mg/dL and without known familial hypercholesterolemia:

1. Individuals with an estimated 10-year cardiovascular disease event risk of 10 percent or higher and at least one risk factor are likely to have moderate benefit from a moderate-intensity statin.
2. Individuals with an estimated 10-year cardiovascular disease event risk of 7.5 percent to less than 10 percent and at least one risk factor are likely to experience small net benefit from a moderate-intensity statin; clinicians should engage patients in decision-making.
3. There is insufficient evidence to assess the net harms and benefits of statins in adults 76 and older, regardless of estimated 10-year cardiovascular disease event risk or risk factors.