Statins being prescribed for those “least in need”

A lack of resources is hampering attempts to implement an effective strategy to combat the problem of coronary heart disease in the United Kingdom, which has some of the highest rates of the disease in the world, a consensus conference held last week has concluded.

The conference, organised by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, examined the issue of lowering lipids to prevent vascular events and called for a clear commitment by the government to implement preventive policies of proved value.

The conference agreed that a joint approach needs …