What condition do statins primarily treat?

Statins primarily treat hypercholesterolemia, which refers to elevated levels of cholesterol in the blood, particularly low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. The primary mechanism of action of statins involves the inhibition of the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase, a key step in the biosynthesis of cholesterol. By blocking this enzyme, statins effectively lower the production of cholesterol in the liver, leading to a decrease in circulating levels of LDL cholesterol.

Additionally, by promoting the uptake of LDL by the liver, statins not only lower cholesterol levels but also help reduce the risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes. That makes their role in cardiovascular disease prevention particularly significant.

Other conditions listed, such as hypertension, infections, and cancer, are managed with entirely different classes of medications and mechanisms that do not involve cholesterol biosynthesis. Thus, while statins specifically target cholesterol levels, they do not have efficacy against high blood pressure or malignancies, nor do they treat infections.