What should be monitored prior to starting a patient on statins?

Before starting a patient on statins, monitoring liver function tests (LFTs) is crucial. Statins can cause liver enzyme elevations in some patients, which may indicate hepatotoxicity. By assessing LFTs prior to initiation, healthcare providers can establish a baseline and monitor for any potential liver-related side effects during treatment. If significant elevations in liver enzymes occur after starting statin therapy, it can prompt further investigation or the need for dosage adjustment or discontinuation of the medication.

In addition, while monitoring blood glucose levels, kidney function, and lipid panels are important aspects of a comprehensive care plan for patients who may be prescribed statins, they are not the primary focus before initiating therapy. Blood glucose monitoring is particularly relevant for patients at risk of diabetes, kidney function is crucial for overall health and medication dosing considerations, and the lipid panel is typically assessed as part of ongoing treatment to evaluate the effectiveness of statins. However, LFTs specifically address the critical risk of liver function alterations associated with statin use, making them a priority for monitoring at the start of therapy.