Pharmacological intervention: statins
NICE recommends prescribing a statin that will give a reduction in HDL-C (or LDL-C) of at least 40 per cent. Table 1, below, details the relative potencies of statins. Atorvastatin 20mg once a day is recommended as the first-line option for all primary prevention indications. Rosuvastatin offers a cost-effective alternative, with the caveat of a starting dose of 5mg once a day and maximum dose of 20mg once a day in patients of Asian ethnicity. There are five statins available on prescription in the UK.
