72 year old 5 year health check

When my blood test results came back all I was told was that they were 'satisfactory'. I really didn't know what to think about that. Statins not suggested.

You and me both, Aveline, yet my husband's were normal.
I've never been satisfactory at school, always very good or excellent, so I was a bit miffed!
I don't care if I'm not normal, as long as it's ok! 🤣

OLLYgr if it ain't broke, don't fix it is my theory. Don't worry.

Financial Incentives: The NHS QOF (Quality and Outcomes Framework) system heavily rewards GP practices financially for identifying eligible patients and prescribing cholesterol-lowering treatments. Practices must meet extremely high targets to secure this funding.

Millions of New Patients: Following updated guidance from NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence), millions of people with a 10-year CVD risk score of 10% or more are now eligible. Many feel this casts the net too wide, essentially putting low-risk individuals on medication.

I've heard and seen questions asked about this matter previously, so I asked Google if Statins were being 'pushed' on NHS patients' and the above was the response - Google also advised...

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

If you feel you are being pushed into taking a statin, speak openly with your GP about your QRISK score, your personal preferences, and whether modifying your diet or increasing exercise is a viable alternative to medication.

Could you check on the NHS App all test results are there and they show wether your results are normal or otherwise with what needs to be done, i:e see GP, speak to nurse etc.

Dickens 👍
I'm sure there was a thread on here about this a while back.

If only we had the NHS app here in Scotland but, oh no, SNP government had to be different. Sigh.

Your Qrisk score is good.. My GP wanted to add that in my mix, but I saw my Consultant Cardiologist, so I asked his advice. He worked it out for me... He made mine 11.8..that was only 10 days ago, even though I have a few issues, his advice on Statins.... No need. For the average 71 year old, with well controlled issues (which I have) he told me it was around 18.

So your GP is pushing you, as they do get extra money for the more people they add to the Statin list.

Look at it this way... 89% chance of not having an issue. Up to you but I'm a no

OLLYgr

Had a healthcheck done, good results on sugar test, cholesterol 3.1, weight good. The Qrisk result has come back at 11%, meaning 11% chance of heart attack or stroke within ten years and my doctor may want to put me on statins.
I thought 3.1 cholesterol was ok and stating not needed.
When all my blood tests came back, it said no further action needed.
I wonder if anyone can explain this for me

My cholesterol is said to be very high so I’ve changed my diet. Have just had a well woman check and will be having another b/t. I’m convinced that they are desperate to get me on statins. I was given a figure of 15 for my cholesterol and the doctor said anything above 10 was dangerous but I think cholesterol is far more complicated than that.

Dickens

^Financial Incentives: The NHS QOF (Quality and Outcomes Framework) system heavily rewards GP practices financially for identifying eligible patients and prescribing cholesterol-lowering treatments. Practices must meet extremely high targets to secure this funding.^

Millions of New Patients: Following updated guidance from NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence), millions of people with a 10-year CVD risk score of 10% or more are now eligible. Many feel this casts the net too wide, essentially putting low-risk individuals on medication.

I've heard and seen questions asked about this matter previously, so I asked Google if Statins were being 'pushed' on NHS patients' and the above was the response - Google also advised...

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

If you feel you are being pushed into taking a statin, speak openly with your GP about your QRISK score, your personal preferences, ^and whether modifying your diet or increasing exercise is a viable alternative to medication.^

The doctor didn’t offer any advice re diet. My b/p, weight etc is fine, only problem is my bad knee is stopping me from doing the amount of exercise I used to do and I must admit to mentioning that to the doctor.

Has the OP's GP prescribed statins? I don't think the OP has said that.

"The Qrisk result has come back at 11%, meaning 11% chance of heart attack or stroke within ten years and my doctor may want to put me on statins." from OP

GPs do not get paid for prescribing statins, they get paid for meeting targets for testing and identifying patients with a particular health risk and offering them suitable treatment. Patients with a Qrisk of more than 10% are now eligible for statins, the OP is just over that threshold so "may" be offered stains if the GP thinks they are suitable.

I’m 75 next week and I’ve never had a health check, I’m fit and healthy, I think.

If you think about it, you have an 89% chance of not having a stroke. IMHO, it’s worth the risk not taking statins.

Thank you everyone for your very helpful and informative replies.
For the sake of the 1% over, I will decline taking statins if the doctor suggests this. It will be interesting to see if he does and Ill let you know the outcome.

2 measurements are taken, High Density Lipids ( HDL) and low density lipids (LDL), the ratio between the 2 is an important measure of heart health and may have been raised, worth asking your Gp or Practice Nurse to explain

No one can tell you what taking a statin will mean you you.
If you have not had severe cadiovascular events up until now, any possible longevity advantage of taking a statin is statistical and spread over a large number of people.

Lots of people who refuse to take statins have reduced their cholesterol by taking a strong dose of clean (i.e. without any fillers, bulking agents or unnecessary additives) plant sterols. That’s what I’d resort to if statins were ever prescribed for me, alongside all my other supplements.

I was put on statins 3yrs ago when diagnosed with type 2 diabetes even though my cholesterol has always been normal, I was told it was for precautionary measures.
However I don’t like the possibility of side effects and when you buy travel insurance etc it goes up in price once you tell them you are on statins.

Why is there such controversy about statins? I have been on them for years, as has DH.

when you buy travel insurance etc it goes up in price once you tell them you are on statins

They get you all ways, as you have to declare if you have ever been advised to take them by your GP. If you say you have refused them, then I expect that invalidates your insurance if you suffer from any related condition on holiday.

Calendargirl

^when you buy travel insurance etc it goes up in price once you tell them you are on statins^

They get you all ways, as you have to declare if you have ever been advised to take them by your GP. If you say you have refused them, then I expect that invalidates your insurance if you suffer from any related condition on holiday.

Mr Ps doctor advised statins. That was 2 months before we were due to fly. He picked up the prescription, and took one box with him ( just in case the worst happened and the insurance company checked) 😉

When I read i have 11% chance of having a heart attack I prefer to read that as, I have 89% chance of not having one.
But then I’m not a worrier or think Doctors are always right
.

Arguably, the UK is behind the times. Supported by the WHO, many countries now offer a polypill.

www.polypill.com/

At the moment in some countries it is being offered to patients who have had a heart-related event but many clinicians are also suggesting that it should be prescribed to all over 50s to reduce the number of future heart attacks and strokes.

I think people are wary of statins because of the persistent myth that GPs get money for prescribing them....they don't!

Statins not only lower cholesterol, which can be difficult to do with diet especially for those with inherited high cholesterol, they also protect the heart by stabilising plaques in the arteries and help to prevent strokes.

Research has shown that few people have bad side effects and a recent study has shown that some people who thought they had muscle pain etc because they were taking stains were in fact on a placebo. There are several different types of statin for people who do get a side effect so it's always worth trying a different one.

petra

Yes, I wonder how many people are prescribed statins, but never take them?

My sister was prescribed them a couple of years ago, for her cholesterol. She takes them religiously. I asked her what her cholesterol is now. She has no idea. I don’t think she has ever been called in to update her.

Reductive, my cholesterol five years ago was 5.5 ( they called it borderline then). I was offered stating and I agreed, but asked could I try and reduce it myself with healthy eating first. Had another test six months later and reduced it to just over 3, so it can be done.