SIPMeL

Login

NICE recommends wider use of statins for prevention of CVD

20/01/2023

In updated guidance on lipid modification, NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) recommends that preventative treatment for cardiovascular disease (CVD) should be halved from a 20 per cent risk of developing the disease over 10 years to a 10 per cent risk.

At a glance

  • GPs should offer atorvastatin 20mg for the primary prevention of CVD to people who have a 10 per cent or greater risk of developing CVD within the next 10 years.
  • Patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes should be offered 20mg atorvastatin for primary prevention of CVD
  • Patients with established CVD may need to be offered 80mg atorvastatin
  • GPs should discuss the benefits of changes to lifestyle with patients before initiating treatment with statins.
  • The risk of developing CVD should be estimated using the QRISK2 assessment tool.
  • NICE does not believe the new guidance will increase workload for GPs.

The new recommendations mean that an additional 4.5 million people could be eligible for statins, helping to prevent up to 28,000 heart attacks and 16,000 strokes each year.

To learn more visit the NICE website.