Lipid modification: cardiovascular risk assessment and the modification of blood lipids for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease
A 20% cardiovascular disease (CVD) 10-year risk threshold for statin treatment was established by the technology appraisal on statins.3 This is considerably lower than the previously recommended National Service Framework threshold, which is equivalent to a 40% CVD risk. The new 20% CVD risk threshold increases the numbers of people targeted for further clinical assessment and possible statin treatment for primary prevention in England and Wales from around one million to over three million.4 The guideline endorses this threshold and sets out a strategy for the identification of people at high CVD risk and clarifies their management and treatment.