EDITORIAL December 01, 2020 December 01, 2020

Choosing Wisely Statins

DOI: 10.20945/2359-3997000000312

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death worldwide (). Therefore, CVD prevention should be considered in routine clinical practice for all adults, particularly those with comorbidities that increase the risk of cardiovascular events, including diabetes mellitus (DM), chronic kidney disease (CKD), and hypertension. Statins are among the medications with the highest level of evidence in preventing CVDs, particularly in patients at increased cardiovascular risk and those with a history of CVD (i.e., secondary prevention). Considering all the different statins available in the market (fluvastatin, atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, pravastatin, lovastatin, pitavastatin, simvastatin), how should physicians choose the right statin for each patient? Moreover, is there enough evidence to suggest that certain statins should be prescribed in the presence of specific comorbidities?

Choosing Wisely is an initiative by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) “that seeks to advance a national dialogue on avoiding unnecessary medical tests, treatments and procedures” (). In line with the initiative, Borges and cols. published an interesting review in this edition of the Archives of Endocrinology and Metabolism with the aim of rationalizing statin treatment to reduce side effects and improve adherence (). However, how simple is it to choose statins wisely for individual patients? Should the decision be based on evidence, efficacy, or safety?

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