Lipid Disorders + Statins

Question 1

What dose of statins are used for primary prevention?

Answer 1

Atorvastatin 20mg

Question 2

What dose of statins are used for secondary prevention?

Answer 2

Atorvastatin 80mg

Question 3

Statins interact with which class of antibiotics?

Answer 3

Macrolides (e.g. Erythromycin, Clarithromycin)

Question 4

Who should get a statin for primary prevention?

Answer 4

QRISK 10%+
Type 1 diabetes and (age over 40, or diagnosis 10 years or established nephropathy)
CKD (eGFR less than 60)

Question 5

What are the side effects of statins?

Answer 5

Muscle pain, myopathy, rhabdomyolysis

Abnormal LFTs

Question 6

What monitoring is required for statins?

Answer 6

LFTs at 3 months and 12 months only

Recheck cholesterol at 3 months (aiming for greater than 40% reduction in non-HDL cholesterol

Question 7

What are the features of familial hypercholesterolaemia?

Answer 7

Total cholesterol >7.5

Tendon xanthoma

Question 8

What monitoring bloods are needed with statins?

Answer 8

LFTs baseline, 3 months, then yearly
Lipid profile at baseline, and then assess response at 3 months after starting therapy