Statin Guideline Update from United States Preventive Services Task Force

  • November 3, 2022

    Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading causes of mortality in the U.S., accounting for more than one in four deaths1. In 2019, an estimated 558,000 deaths were caused by coronary heart disease and 109,000 deaths caused by ischemic stroke1.

    Who is most at risk?

    • Age is the strongest risk.1
    • Men are higher risk than women.1
    • Black and Hispanic adults are highest risk.1

    2022 statin guidelines update

    • Primary prevention in adults 40-75 years old: One or more CVD risk factors present such as diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking, and a 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk score of 7.5-10%.1
    • Patients 76 years and older. The evidence was insufficient to gauge the benefit and harm with statin use for ASCVD prevention. United States Preventive Services Task Force authors suggest that providers use their professional discretion to decide statin use in each age group.

    Medicare Quality Stars Metric Part D that involves statins:

    • Statin use in persons with diabetes – (SUPD)
      • Members 40-75 years old who are dispensed 2 diabetes medication fills, must receive a statin for the calendar year
      • Exclusions codes per calendar year: hospice, end-stage renal disease (ESRD), rhabdomyolysis, pregnancy, lactation/fertility, cirrhosis, pre-diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome
    • Medication adherence for cholesterol (statins)
      • Members >18 years old, must stay on the statin once started for the calendar year
      • Exclusions codes per calendar year: hospice, ESRD

    [1] United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). Statin use for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in adults: preventive medication – final recommendation statement. August 23, 2022. https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/recommendation/statin-use-in-adults-preventive-medication

     

    [2]  Sartain M. USPSTF updates statin recommendations for CVD prevention in adults. APhA. August 25, 2022.  https://www.pharmacist.com/Pharmacy-News/ArtMID/531/ArticleID/1081/USPSTF-updates-statin-recommendations-for-CVD-prevention-in-adults

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