Statin prescribing, preventative use and lipid levels

The last research roundup provided readers with an overview of some papers related to polypharmacy and multimorbidity and the impact the COVID-19 global pandemic has had on prescribing practices in these areas, as well as the risk polypharmacy and multimorbidity carry to those who contract COVID-19 (Robertson, 2021). This month we will be reviewing papers relating to prescribing of statins and lipid modification goals in the management of hyperlipidaemia and the prevention of cardiovascular disease.

This review of the literature published in the Journal of Vascular Health and Risk Management (Reynolds et al, 2021), looked at the important area of the use of the drug group statins and the ezetimibe (a cholesterol absorption inhibitor) and the link to achievement of lipid modification goals and their use in prevention of cardiovascular disease. This UK based review was conducted between January 2017 and February 2020. Reynolds et al (2021) give a good introduction to cholesterol and its role in cardiovascular disease and outline the benefits of modifying lipid levels as a strategy to reduced risk of development of cardiovascular disease. They provide good evidence to support their statement that ‘Despite widespread evidence of the effectiveness of lipid modification for the reduction of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, lipid modification goals are commonly underachieved in the United Kingdom (UK)’.