Key Points of the New Statin Guidelines

According to new guidelines issued by the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology, statins are recommended for people who have...

• Cardiovascular disease. This includes those with a history of heart attack, angina, stroke or transient ischemic attack or anyone who has undergone a procedure, such as angioplasty, to widen arteries.

• Extremely high LDL "bad" cholesterol levels (190 mg/dL or above).

• Type 2 diabetes and are ages 40 to 75.

• An estimated 10-year risk for cardiovascular disease of 7.5% or higher, based on the online calculator, and are ages 40 to 75.*