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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Statin Use for the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Adults: Preventive Medication

About this resource:

Systematic Review

Source: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

Last Reviewed: August 2022

Workgroups: Heart Disease and Stroke Workgroup, Access to Health Services Workgroup, Older Adults Workgroup

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that some adults without signs or symptoms of cardiovascular disease (CVD) use a statin to prevent CVD. Specifically, the recommendation applies to people who:

  • Are ages 40 to 75 years
  • Have 1 or more CVD risk factors
  • Are at high risk for a CVD event — determined by a clinician

USPSTF found insufficient evidence to assess whether the benefits of starting statins outweigh the harms in people age 76 years or older.

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Objectives related to this resource (2)

Increase cholesterol treatment in adults — HDS‑07
Little or no detectable change
Increase the proportion of adults who get recommended evidence-based preventive health care — AHS‑08
Getting worse

Suggested Citation

1.

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. (2016). Statin Use for the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Adults: Preventive Medication. Retrieved from https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/statin-use-in-adults-preventive-medication