It is important therefore to assess age against validated simplified and complex CVD risk tools when predicting people at high risk. 2 Cost effectiveness using individual patient-level data What is the improvement in the cost-effectiveness metrics for statin therapy in reducing CVD that can be obtained when using a complete individual patient-based outcomes meta-analysis data set compared with using published outcomes data? Why this is important This guideline development process uses published summary data from trials in a meta-analysis to inform the clinical efficacy of statins. This use of aggregate data has limitations. The use of individual patient data would allow use of time to event statistics and allow investigation of interaction with baseline risk. Such an approach can be used to validate the current approach and would provide useful information on limitations of use of summary data. 3 Statin therapy in older people What is the effectiveness of statin therapy in older people? Why this is important The UK population is ageing and atherosclerosis is an age-associated process. Few trials assessing cardiovascular outcomes have recruited many people older than 80 years yet the important effect of age on CVD risk suggests that all people in this group should be offered statin therapy. However, there is no evidence to validate the CVD benefits and side effects of statin therapy such as effect on muscle and renal function in this age group. Controversy also exists about the efficacy of statins in preventing or promoting other chronic diseases of ageing such as dementia, Parkinson's disease, or age-related macular degeneration. 4 Lipid modification therapy in people with type 1 diabetes What is the effectiveness of statins and/or other low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol-lowering treatment in people with type 1 diabetes? 