For patients with cardiovascular disease, statins belong to routine medical treatment irrespective of blood lipid levels. In primary prevention also, statins have been found to prevent cardiovascular diseases, associated deaths and decrease overall mortality. In previously healthy persons the use of statins should be based on the assessment of total risk--mere cholesterol level does not usually constitute an indication for treatment. The use of statins may lead to adverse effects, the major one being myopathy, for which an elevated risk is associated with increasing statin dosages.