The "sneaky" aspect of the risk associated with high blood cholesterol given its asymptomatic nature before complications arise makes hypolipidemic treatment often problematic for our patients. This is especially so because the side effects that can occur such as myalgia and the polemics diffused through the media by some critics cause worry and doubts in our patients. In this article, we will discuss three of the most frequently encountered problems and how to address them.
What is already known about the topic?
Despite the proven efficacy of hypolipidemic drugs (statin and ezetimibe), the adherence of our patients to these treatments remains limited due to various factors such as the asymptomatic character of hypercholesterolemia, side effects suspected by the patient and the mediatization of false polemics about drugs.
What does this article bring up for us?
Physician responses to disinterested and worried patients can restore confidence in these drugs and their health benefits.
Keywords
Cardiovascular disease, cardiovascular prevention, cholesterol, atherosclerosis, drug intolerance, adverse reactions, adherence, media