Description
The use of statins to effectively and safely
lower cholesterol has revolutionised the treatment
and prevention of atherosclerotic vascular disease.
Statin treatment has now become a mainstay of
the management of patients with diabetes or any
form of vascular disease, and in addition is
recommended in UK guidelines for otherwise
healthy individuals with a ten year risk of
cardiovascular disease of 20% or greater. Statin
treatment brings very considerable clinical
benfits, and in general is well tolerated. However,
as with all drug classes, clinically significant side
effects may occur and may lead to cessation of
treatment, either by the patient or by the clinician.
This article will describe the main statin side
effects, including their aetiology (where known)
and frequency, and will discuss how the risk of
statin side effects can be minimised. In the
following article, the management of the statin
intolerant patients will be discussed.
