Statins for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease

Use of statins by low risk patients has been criticised on the grounds that their benefits do not outweigh their harms 12 and debated. 13 14 However, all cause mortality in people taking statins with no pre-existing cardiovascular disease is reduced (table), indicating that any unintended life threatening effects are outweighed by their beneficial impact on cardiovascular disease, although this evidence is not strong. Earlier concerns about cancer risk are unfounded. However, other unintended effects