Management of patients with statin intolerance

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, and statins have become a cornerstone in its treatment and prevention. Despite the well-documented ben-efits of statins, many patients stop taking them, with adverse muscle symptoms being a commonly cited reason. Although some statin-associated adverse muscle effects are real, some can be attributed to the nocebo effect, which is the patient's perception of harm. The purpose of this article is to review the literature on statin safety, particularly that related to muscle, to analyze adverse effects, and to propose various treatment strategies for the statin intolerant patient.(c) 2022 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Automated summary

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is a major cause of disability and death, and statins have become a crucial treatment and prevention for it. Despite the proven benefits of statins, many patients discontinue their usage, with muscle symptoms as a commonly stated reason. This article aims to review the literature on statin safety, particularly regarding muscle-related adverse effects, analyze adverse effects, and propose various treatment strategies for statin-intolerant patients.