Professor Bassand continues, It is important that pharmacists are fully briefed in order to ensure that individuals take the treatment as recommended, regularly and with an appreciation of the need to report side effects.  Blood cholesterol and other risk factors, such as family history of heart disease, should be noted and taken into account not only before but also during treatment, and individuals should also be advised on how to improve their lifestyles to reduce their risk profile overall.

Prevention is a priority

Professor Bassand states, The mission of the ESC is to improve the quality of life of the European population by reducing the impact of cardiovascular disease ™, and prevention is one of the most important means by which this can be achieved.  The ESC acknowledges the UK ruling as placing cardiovascular disease prevention high on the healthcare agenda.  This should be coupled with increased emphases on lifestyle factor improvements, healthy living campaigns and specific targets for individuals to strive for.

Professor Bassand continues, Statins are notoriously under-prescribed and any initiative to improve access to at-risk populations is a step in the right direction, provided that these individuals are appropriately screened and monitored and made equally aware of the need for risk factor reduction overall. 

Statins should not be considered as a stand-alone wonder-drug in the fight against heart disease.  Individuals should be encouraged to reduce their cholesterol and other risk factor levels through lifestyle improvements and actively supported to do so with on-going public health campaigns, concludes Professor Bassand. escardio