Statins: to whom and in what cases are they indicated?

Abstract

Although the etiology of atherosclerosis is not sufficiently clear to date, however, there are known risk factors (RF) that significantly increase the likelihood of its development, with almost half of the main RF of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are lipid metabolism disorders. Numerous clinical studies in which statins were the main intervention have shown that lower levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol are associated with a decrease in cardiovascular complications, including fatal ones. In this article, taking into account the recently published recommendations of the European society of cardiology and the European society of atherosclerosis, indications are considered for the prescribing of statins in patients of different categories of cardiovascular risk, depending on the basal levels of LDL. Particular attention is
paid to the indications for the administration of statins in patients with moderate and low cardiovascular risk, the determination of the initial risk in patients already on drug therapy, as well as the prescribing of statins in various comorbid clinical conditions. These issues are most relevant for practitioners, as statins are the main means for the correction of hypercholesterolemia, and their timely administration can reduce cardiovascular and mortality in the population.