Confused about Statins?

According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, the conflicting guidelines about statins may leave 9 million Americans unsure about treatment.The American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology guidelines would raise statin use by 24% while the guidelines from the US Preventive Task Force would only raise statin use by 16%. This 8% difference translates into 9 million Americans. The USPSTF recommends statins for people aged 40-75 with at least 1 cardiovacular risk factor, and those with a 10% or more chance of a heart attack in 10 years. This is compared to a 7.5% risk recommended by the American Heart Association. This could possible lead to doctors recommending less statins, especially for younger adults with a long-term cardiovascular risk. This discrepancy may leave both doctors and patients unsure how to proceed with treatment, especially since there is debate about which guideline is “correct.” The best advice is to consider the potential side effects of the medication and have an informed discussion with your doctor about treatment and to weigh the pros and cons.