NLA Task Force on Statin Safety - 2014 update

Introduction

Statins are the most widely prescribed class of medications in the United States and their benefits for lowering (LDL-C) and reducing the risk for (CHD) are well documented.
In 2006, the National Lipid Association (NLA) convened a Statin Safety Assessment Task Force of experts who published their findings on specific questions related to the muscle, liver, renal, and neurologic effects of statins.
The true frequency of statin intolerance in the population is unknown, but may approach 10%.
Muscle symptoms may occur in up to 29% of patients initiated on statin therapy, and may be an important causal factor for statin discontinuation, statin switching, and statin nonadherence.