Letter

Are eligibility criteria for over the counter statins appropriate?

BMJ 2006; 333 doi: 10.1136/bmj.333.7570.704 (Published 28 September 2006)
Cite this as: BMJ 2006;333:704.1

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  1. D Graham Mackenzie, specialist registrar in public health (gm@nhs.net),
  2. Sarah H Wild, senior lecturer in public health and epidemiology,
  3. Philip Rutledge, consultant in medicines management
  1. Public Health Department, NHS Fife, Cameron House, Leven, Fife KY8 5RG
  2. Public Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9AG
  3. Lothian NHS Board, Edinburgh EH8 9RS

    EDITOR—Low dose statins are now available for purchase over the counter by people at moderate risk of coronary heart disease (10 year risk of coronary heart disease 10-15%). Eligible people are identified using an assessment of age, sex, and number of risk factors for coronary heart disease as described in guidelines from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain.1 The guidelines also recommend that blood pressure and cholesterol should be checked to identify people at high risk who should see their general practitioner, but these tests are not always available …

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