From the Guidelines
When starting statins, it is essential to assess the patient's cardiovascular risk using established risk calculators to determine if statin therapy is appropriate, and consider the patient's preferences and potential benefits and harms, as recommended by the USPSTF 1, 2, 3. The decision to initiate statin therapy should be based on the patient's individual circumstances, including their cardiovascular risk factors, such as dyslipidemia, diabetes, hypertension, or smoking, and their calculated 10-year CVD event risk.
- Common statins include atorvastatin (10-80mg daily), rosuvastatin (5-40mg daily), simvastatin (10-40mg daily), and pravastatin (10-80mg daily).
- Higher intensity statins like atorvastatin 40-80mg or rosuvastatin 20-40mg are typically recommended for patients with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or very high risk, as they have been shown to reduce cardiovascular events and mortality 4. Before initiating therapy, obtain baseline liver function tests and creatine kinase levels, and counsel patients about potential side effects, particularly muscle pain, which occurs in 5-10% of patients.
- Recommend taking statins at the same time each day, with atorvastatin and rosuvastatin effective any time of day, while simvastatin is best taken in the evening.
- Monitor lipid levels 4-12 weeks after starting therapy to assess efficacy, aiming for LDL reduction of 30-50% depending on risk category.
- Be aware of potential drug interactions, especially with medications metabolized by cytochrome P450 enzymes, and consider starting at lower doses for elderly patients or those with renal impairment. The most recent and highest quality study 5 confirms that statins reduce cardiovascular events and mortality, and that beneficial effects are seen across all age groups, with no effect on non-vascular mortality, cancer death, or cancer incidence.
From the FDA Drug Label
Advanced age (≥65 years) is a risk factor for pravastatin-associated myopathy and rhabdomyolysis. Dose selection for an elderly patient should be cautious, recognizing the greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal, or cardiac function, and of concomitant disease or other drug therapy and the higher risk of myopathy Renal impairment is a risk factor for myopathy and rhabdomyolysis. Monitor all patients with renal impairment for development of myopathy. Pravastatin shows a large inter-subject variability in pharmacokinetics in patients with liver cirrhosis
When starting statins, key considerations include:
- Age: Advanced age (≥65 years) is a risk factor for myopathy and rhabdomyolysis, requiring cautious dose selection.
- Renal Impairment: Patients with renal impairment are at higher risk of myopathy and should be monitored closely.
- Hepatic Impairment: Pravastatin is contraindicated in patients with acute liver failure or decompensated cirrhosis, and shows large inter-subject variability in pharmacokinetics in patients with liver cirrhosis. 6
From the Research
Considerations When Starting Statins
When considering starting statins, several factors should be taken into account, including:
- The patient's baseline LDL-cholesterol levels and target LDL-cholesterol values 7
- The selection of the starting dose of statin according to baseline and target LDL-cholesterol values 7
- The potential for individualizing the starting dose of statin to achieve target LDL-cholesterol levels safely and within a specific timeframe, such as 12 weeks 7
- The comparison of the effects of different statins, such as atorvastatin, fluvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, and simvastatin, on fasting and postprandial lipoproteins in patients with coronary heart disease 8
- The evaluation of the efficacy and safety of statins, including rosuvastatin, atorvastatin, simvastatin, and pravastatin, in achieving lipid-lowering goals and reducing coronary artery disease risk 9, 10
Efficacy and Safety of Statins
The efficacy and safety of statins have been extensively studied, with evidence suggesting that:
- Statins are effective in lowering LDL-cholesterol levels and reducing the risk of coronary artery disease 8, 9, 10
- Different statins have varying levels of efficacy, with some statins, such as atorvastatin and rosuvastatin, being more effective than others, such as fluvastatin and pravastatin 8, 9, 10
- Statins are generally well-tolerated, with a low risk of adverse events, such as muscle and liver damage 11
- The benefits of statin therapy far outweigh any real or perceived risks, with overwhelming evidence supporting their use in both primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease 11
Patient-Specific Considerations
When starting statins, patient-specific considerations should be taken into account, including:
- The patient's medical history, including any history of coronary heart disease or other cardiovascular conditions 8
- The patient's current medications and potential interactions with statins 11
- The patient's lifestyle and dietary habits, including any potential impact on lipid levels and cardiovascular risk 11