Should a statin be given to all hypertensive patients?

Statins have become an essential treatment for primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular risk. This has been firmly established for patients with a relatively high risk for cardiovascular complications. Recent studies, in particular the HOPE trial, has extended this observation to patients with intermediate cardiovascular risk, including hypertensive patients. On the other hand, statin use has been associated with side effects in a small percentage of patients. The decision to add a statin to the drug treatment of a hypertensive patient should be based on an assessment of the individual's potential risk reduction and the perceived side effects of the treatment. (C) 2017 Association for Research into Arterial Structure and Physiology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.