THE IMPACT OF CONTINUOUS STATIN USE ON LIPID AND INFLAMMATORY PROFILES IN PATIENTS AT CARDIOVASCULAR RISK

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases remain among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide and are strongly associated with dyslipidemia, chronic vascular inflammation, and the progression of atherosclerosis. In this context, statins have become the main therapeutic class used in the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular events, particularly due to their effectiveness in lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. However, recent scientific evidence suggests that the benefits of these medications extend beyond lipid control, involving pleiotropic effects related to modulation of the inflammatory response, improvement of endothelial function, and stabilization of atherosclerotic plaques. The present study aimed to analyze, based on the scientific literature, the effects of continuous statin use on lipid and inflammatory profiles in patients at cardiovascular risk. This study consists of a narrative literature review with a qualitative and descriptive-analytical approach. The bibliographic search was conducted in the PubMed/MEDLINE, SciELO, and Google Scholar databases using descriptors related to statins, lipid profile, inflammation, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular risk, combined with the Boolean operators AND and OR. Studies published between 2002 and 2025 were included, prioritizing randomized clinical trials, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, observational studies, and clinical guidelines. The findings demonstrated that continuous statin use promotes significant reduction in LDL-C levels and decreases the incidence of cardiovascular events, in addition to contributing to the reduction of inflammatory biomarkers, especially high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. It was also observed that part of the cardiovascular protection provided by statins may be associated with modulation of vascular inflammation and reduction of residual cardiovascular risk. It is concluded that statins exert a significant impact on both lipid metabolism and inflammatory mechanisms associated with atherosclerosis, reinforcing their fundamental role in contemporary cardiovascular prevention.