Under what condition should high intensity dose statins be initiated upon admission or discharge?

Initiating high-intensity statin therapy upon admission or discharge is primarily guided by the patient's LDL cholesterol levels and age. The correct choice highlights that high-intensity statins should be started when a patient's LDL levels are greater than or equal to 70 mg/dL and the individual is under the age of 75.

This recommendation stems from guidelines that advocate for aggressive management of cholesterol levels, particularly in individuals who are at higher risk for cardiovascular events, such as those who have suffered a stroke or transient ischemic attack. In patients younger than 75 with elevated LDL levels, there is substantial evidence that high-intensity statins significantly reduce the risk of further cardiovascular incidents.

Conversely, individuals aged 75 and older may have different treatment considerations due to co-morbidities and potential medication interactions, which could necessitate a different approach to statin therapy. Additionally, starting statins in patients whose LDL is less than 70 doesn't align with the established guidelines that prioritize treatment for those who are at higher risk due to elevated LDL that could contribute to further cardiac events. If a statin is contraindicated, it would not be appropriate to initiate any statin therapy. Thus, the timing of initiating high-intensity statin therapy depends on age