Overcoming patient reluctance to statin intolerance

Abstract

Statin therapy is a cornerstone in the management of dyslipidemia, both in primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular events. Despite strong guidelines supporting statin use, concerns regarding side effects, particularly musculoskeletal symptoms, contribute to statin intolerance and patient reluctance. While statin intolerance is reported in 5% to 30% of patients, its true prevalence may be overestimated due to the influence of the nocebo effect. Factors associated with higher incidence of statin intolerance include older age, female sex, comorbidities such as diabetes and chronic kidney disease, and concurrent use of medications such as antiarrhythmic agents or calcium channel blockers. Clinical characterization of statin intolerance requires thorough evaluation and exclusion of alternative causes of musculoskeletal symptoms. Strategies to address statin intolerance include reassessing cardiovascular risk, engaging in shared decision-making, statin rechallenge after appropriate washout periods, dosage titration for tolerability, and consideration of alternative therapies when low-density lipoprotein goals cannot be achieved with statins. This review provides an overview of the spectrum of statin intolerance, its clinical assessment, and a systematic approach to caring for a patient with statin intolerance.