Ordering Statins for the Treatment of Atherosclerosis in the Primary Care Setting

Authors

Mary Comer, University of LynchburgFollow

Specialty

Vascular Surgery

Advisor

Elyse Watkins, DHSc, PA-C, DFAAPA

Abstract

ABSTRACT:

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to establish guidelines for primary care providers in prescribing and monitoring statin medications.

Method: A literature review was conducted using Pubmed and Google Scholar with search terms statins, atherosclerotic disease, statin guidelines, high dose statin. Articles were chosen based on validity and relevance. Recent articles, those less than 5 years old were used when possible.

Results: There is sufficient evidence to show that statins can decrease morbidity and mortality associated with cardiovascular disease, loss of limbs and strokes.1 The risk of hepatotoxicity needs to be weighed against the benefit for individual patients, given their disease state and tolerance. Cardiovascular patients on high dose statin therapy had fewer all-cause mortality than similar patients on moderate or low dose statins.2 Patients should be prescribed statins based on their cardiovascular risk and tolerance.

Conclusion: Primary care providers should be more aggressive in ordering statin medications for adult patients to reduce long term risk of myocardial infarction, stroke and amputation. Additionally, these patients need blood test monitoring of liver function, especially in the first six months of starting a medication. This is especially important in patients who are high risk from other chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, those with significant family history of CAD and those who have already had an atherosclerotic related event.

Recommended Citation

Comer M. Ordering Statins for the Treatment of Atherosclerosis in the Primary Care Setting. University of Lynchburg DMSc Doctoral Project Assignment Repository. 2020; 2(3).