What We're Reading: US Task Force Releases Statin Use Recommendations

The United States Preventive Services Task Force has released draft recommendations for statins, which should be used to prevent a first heart attack or stroke. According to HealthDay, the recommendations call for use of statins in adults ages 40 to 74 years old who have an existing risk factor for heart disease and 10% or greater 10-year risk of a heart attack or stroke. In addition, the task force said that people with a 10-year risk of as low as 7.5% might also benefit from statins.

Both Republican and Democratic voters have listed curbing rising healthcare costs as one of the top priorities for the next US president, according to Reuters. A poll found that 62% of people want to know presidential candidates’ plans for reducing healthcare costs with the proportion nearly the same for Republicans (62%) and Democrats (67%). Only national security was a bigger priority (67%).

Finally, after being arrested last week for fraud related to his time as a hedge fund manager, Martin Shkreli stepped down as CEO of Turing Pharmaceuticals. Now, he has been let go by another company he headed: KaloBios Pharmaceuticals. CNBC reported that after Shkreli had been arrested, the company’s trading was halted, and KaloBios “terminated” Shkreli as CEO on Monday. In addition, he has resigned from the board.