Total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol were reduced in all trials but there was evidence of heterogeneity of effects .
There was no evidence of any serious harm caused by statin prescription .
Evidence available to date showed that primary prevention with statins is likely to be cost-effective and may improve patient quality of life .
Recent findings from the Cholesterol Treatment Trialists study using individual patient data meta- analysis indicate that these benefits are similar in people at lower ( < 1 % per year ) risk of a major cardiovascular event .
AUTHORS ' CONCLUSIONS Reductions in all-cause mortality , major vascular events and revascularisations were found with no excess of adverse events among people without evidence of CVD treated with statins
BACKGROUND Reducing high blood cholesterol , a risk factor for cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) events in people with and without a past history of CVD is an important goal of pharmacotherapy .
Statins are the first-choice agents .
Previous review s of the effects of statins have highlighted their benefits in people with CVD .
The case for primary prevention was uncertain when the last version of this review was published ( 2011 ) and in light of new data an up date of this review is required .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects , both harms and benefits , of statins in people with no history of CVD .
Testing cognitive function in elderly populations: the PROSPER study
Objectives : For large scale follow up studies with non-demented patients in which cognition is an endpoint , there is a need for short , inexpensive , sensitive , and reliable neuropsychological tests that are suitable for repeated measurements . The commonly used Mini-Mental-State-Examination fulfils only the first two requirements . Methods : In the PROspect i ve Study of Pravastatin in the Elderly at Risk ( PROSPER ) , 5804 elderly subjects aged 70 to 82 years were examined using a  learning test ( memory ) , a coding test ( general speed )  , and a short version of the Stroop test ( attention ) .  Data presented here were collected at dual baseline , before r and omisation for active treatment . Results : The tests proved to be reliable ( with test/retest reliabilities ranging from acceptable ( r=0.63 ) to high ( r=0.88 ) and sensitive to detect small differences in subjects from different age categories . All tests showed significant practice effects : performance increased from the first measurement to the first follow up after two weeks . Conclusion : Normative data are provided that can be used for one time neuropsychological testing as well as for assessing individual and group change . Methods for analysing cognitive change are proposed
Total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol were reduced in all trials but there was evidence of heterogeneity of effects .
There was no evidence of any serious harm caused by statin prescription .
Evidence available to date showed that primary prevention with statins is likely to be cost-effective and may improve patient quality of life .
Recent findings from the Cholesterol Treatment Trialists study using individual patient data meta- analysis indicate that these benefits are similar in people at lower ( < 1 % per year ) risk of a major cardiovascular event .
AUTHORS ' CONCLUSIONS Reductions in all-cause mortality , major vascular events and revascularisations were found with no excess of adverse events among people without evidence of CVD treated with statins
BACKGROUND Reducing high blood cholesterol , a risk factor for cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) events in people with and without a past history of CVD is an important goal of pharmacotherapy .
Statins are the first-choice agents .
Previous review s of the effects of statins have highlighted their benefits in people with CVD .
The case for primary prevention was uncertain when the last version of this review was published ( 2011 ) and in light of new data an up date of this review is required .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects , both harms and benefits , of statins in people with no history of CVD .