Adherence to USPSTF recommendations could lead to lower number of individuals recommended for statin

[Northerner]

Fewer people could be recommended for primary prevention statin therapy, including many younger adults with high long-term cardiovascular disease risk, if physicians adhere to the 2016 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations for statin therapy compared with the 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guidelines, according to a study published by JAMA.

The 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines substantially expanded the population eligible for statin therapy by basing recommendations on an elevated 10-year risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). The 2016 USPSTF recommendations for primary prevention statin therapy increased the estimated ASCVD risk threshold for patients (including those with diabetes) and required the presence of at least one cardiovascular risk factor (i.e., hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, or smoking) in addition to elevated risk.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/04/170418111506.htm

 

[trophywench]

Ah - but how do the Americans define 'elevated risk' in the first place?

 

[mikeyB]

There's too many vested interests flying around this story that it's hard to take any sense from it. Plus wot TW said.