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How to Use Statins in Secondary Prevention of Atherosclerotic Diseases: from the Beneficial Early Initiation to the Potentially Unfavorable Discontinuation

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Abstract

Statins, a class of lipid-lowering drugs, reduce morbidity and mortality in patients with established atherosclerosis-related cardiovascular disease. Early initiation of statin therapy after admission for acute coronary syndromes (ACS), stroke, or transient ischemic attack (TIA) is associated with improved cardiovascular outcomes. Moreover, high-dose statin treatment prior to coronary or carotid revascularization has been shown to reduce cardiovascular events in these patients. However, many patients may be undertreated, and a residual cardiovascular risk remains in current clinical practice. Despite the beneficial role of statins, their discontinuation rate among patients is still elevated leading to severe adverse cardiovascular events due to atherosclerotic plaque destabilization. In this review, we summarized the impact of statin treatment among patients, focusing on the initiation time-points as well as the potential harm derived by their discontinuation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical School, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus

    Nikolaos P. E. Kadoglou

  2. Center of Clinical, Experimental Surgery, and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, 4, Soranou Ephesius str, 11527, Athens, Greece

    Marianna Stasinopoulou

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Contributions

Literature search and manuscript preparation: MS, NPEK.

Prepared figures and tables: MS.

Made critical comments, reviewed, and edited the manuscript: NPEK.

All authors reviewed and approved the manuscript in its final form.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marianna Stasinopoulou.

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Kadoglou, N.P.E., Stasinopoulou, M. How to Use Statins in Secondary Prevention of Atherosclerotic Diseases: from the Beneficial Early Initiation to the Potentially Unfavorable Discontinuation. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther 37, 353–362 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10557-021-07233-8

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