What are the current guidelines for the use of statins in primary prevention of cardiovascular disease related to atherosclerosis?

For primary prevention of cardiovascular disease, NICE recommends offering atorvastatin 20 mg to people with a 10‑year QRISK3 score of 10% or more ¹.

Before initiating statin treatment, discuss the benefits of lifestyle changes and optimise management of all modifiable risk factors ¹.

If lifestyle changes are ineffective or inappropriate, then statin treatment should be offered ¹.

People should be informed that any statin at any dose reduces CVD risk ¹.

In people aged 85 and older, consider treatment with atorvastatin 20 mg, taking into account individual factors that may make treatment inappropriate ¹.

Statins are contraindicated in pregnancy and should be stopped if pregnancy is possible or planned, and not restarted until breastfeeding is finished ¹.