Lowering the Risk: A Collaborative Approach to Statin Use
Target Audience: Pharmacist
Course Overview
Statins remain the cornerstone of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) prevention and are among the most commonly prescribed medications worldwide. These medications are generally safe and well-tolerated, with clinical trials consistently demonstrating their ability to lower LDL cholesterol and improve a patient's long-term prognosis. Beyond lowering cholesterol levels, statins also have important pleiotropic effects, including decreasing systemic inflammation, lowering C-reactive protein and pro-inflammatory cytokines, improving endothelial function, and regulating hepatic LDL-receptor-related protein. Evidence also supports the use of statin therapy in individuals without established ASCVD but with elevated inflammatory markers, underscoring the importance of these markers in disease prevention. This continuing education activity provides learners with a practical, contemporary overview of statin therapy, including evidence-based use, key patient counseling considerations, and common safety concerns. Learners will also explore the roles of the interprofessional healthcare team in managing statin therapy, with an emphasis on communication, patient education, and collaborative care planning.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this educational activity, participants should be able to:
- Identify evidence-based recommendations for statin use in primary and secondary prevention of ASCVD
- Describe the mechanisms of action and pharmacologic differences among available statin medications
- Recognize common adverse effects, drug–drug interactions, and monitoring recommendations for statin therapy
- Recall how healthcare team members can collaborate to optimize patient outcomes with statin therapy
Faculty
I. Introduction
II. Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD)
III. Lipoproteins: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly
IV. Lipid Pathophysiology and ASCVD
V. ASCVD: Who is at Risk?
VI. Patient Case
VII. Statins: First-line Lipid-Lowering Therapy
VIII. Who Needs a Statin: Using the Latest Guidelines
IX. Secondary Prevention
X. Special Populations
XI. Healthy Lifestyle: Before, During, and After Statins
XII. Statin Comparisons
A. Administration of Statins
B. Cost
XIII. Statin Adverse Events
XIV. Monitoring Statin Therapy
A. Return to Patient Case
B. Addressing Patient Concerns
XV. Summary
From November 12, 2025 through November 12, 2028, participants must:
- Read the "learning objectives" and "author and planning team disclosures"
- Study the section entitled "educational activity"
- Complete the Course Test and Evaluation form. The Course Test will be graded automatically. Following successful completion of the Course Test with a score of 70% or higher, a statement of participation will be made available immediately. (No partial credit will be given.)
Credit for this course will be automatically uploaded to CPE Monitor®.
Faculty Planner Disclosure
The following individuals were involved in developing this activity: L. Austin Fredrickson, MD, FACP, Liz Fredrickson, PharmD, BCPS, and Pamela Sardo, PharmD, BS. None of the individuals involved in developing this activity has a conflict of interest or financial relationships related to the subject matter. There are no financial relationships or commercial or financial support relevant to this activity to report or disclose by RxCe.com or any of the individuals involved in the development of this activity.
Unlabeled Use Disclosure
The information provided in this course is general in nature and it is solely designed to provide participants with continuing education credit(s). This course and materials are not meant to substitute for the independent, professional judgment of any participant regarding that participant’s professional practice, including but not limited to patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment and/or health management. Medical and pharmacy practices, rules, and laws vary from state to state, and this course does not cover the laws of each state; therefore, participants must consult the laws of their state as they relate to their professional practice. Healthcare professionals, including pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, must consult with their employer, healthcare facility, hospital, or other organization, for guidelines, protocols, and procedures they are to follow. The information provided in this course does not replace those guidelines, protocols, and procedures but is for academic purposes only, and this course’s limited purpose is for the completion of continuing education credits. Participants are advised and acknowledge that information related to medications, their administration, dosing, contraindications, adverse reactions, interactions, warnings, precautions, or accepted uses are constantly changing, and any person taking this course understands that such person must make an independent review of medication information prior to any patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment and/or health management. Any discussion of off-label use of any medication, device, or procedure is informational only and such uses are not endorsed hereby. Nothing contained in this course represents the opinions, views, judgments, or conclusions of RxCe.com LLC. RxCe.com LLC is not liable or responsible to any person for any inaccuracy, error, or omission with respect to this course, or course material.
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Accreditation
In support of improving patient care, RxCE.com is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.