Table 2.

Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule (PBS) qualifying criteria for subsidized statin prescriptions in Australia*

Patient conditions	Lipid level for PBS subsidy
Existing coronary heart disease	Cholesterol >4.0 mmol/L
Diabetes mellitus	Cholesterol >6.5 mmol/L
Familial hypercholesterolemia	or
Family history of coronary heart disease (1st degree relative <60 yrs of age)	Cholesterol >5.5 mmol/L and HDL <1.0 mmol/L
Hypertension
Peripheral vascular disease
HDL Cholesterol <1.0 mmol/L	Cholesterol >6.5 mmol/L
Men 35–75 yrs of age	Cholesterol >7.5 mmol/L
Postmenopausal women up to 75 yrs of age	or Triglycerides >4.0 mmol/L
If not eligible under the above	Cholesterol >9.0 mmol/L or
	Triglycerides >8.0 mmol/L

Note: Adapted from the November 2002 Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits.

Abbreviations: HDL, high-density lipoprotein.