Over the last few years the statins has become the highest consumption therapeutic group within the Navarre Regional Health Service as well as in the rest of Spain.
The increasing media impact on the population at large and on the medical profession has created an impression of illness where there is simply a risk factor. The Spanish epidemiology reality differs notably from the circumstances of actual clinical testing with statins.
Critical appraisal of the different clinical trials in cardiovascular primary prevention with these drugs shows benefits of scant clinical relevance. The importance given to the reduction in relative risk in detriment to the reduction of absolute risk is especially criticized.

Author:

• Antonio López. Drug Information Unit. Navarre Regional Health Service. Spain.