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 .
Carotid intima-media thickness in low-risk individuals with asymptomatic atherosclerosis: baseline data from the METEOR study*
ABSTRACT Objective : Carotid intima-media thickness ( CIMT ) is an index for changes in atherosclerosis burden and changes in CIMT may relate to clinical events . We present baseline data from the METEOR study , a r and omized , placebo-controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of rosuvastatin 40 mg on changes in CIMT . We set out to compare differences in CIMT between several subgroups of individuals . Design and methods : A total of 984 individuals aged 45–70 years ( men ) or 55–70 ( women ) were r and omized . Participants were required to have : maximum CIMT ≥ 1.2– < 3.5 mm ; 2 + risk factors and 10-year coronary heart disease ( CHD ) risk < 10 % , or < 2 CHD risk factors . Demographic characteristics were compared in two groups : USA versus Europe , and individuals with maximum CIMT < 2 mm versus those with CIMT ≥ 2 mm . Baseline data : Overall , mean age was 57 years and mean low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was 152 mg/dL ( 3.9 mmol/L  ) . Body mass index ( BMI ) , triglyceride and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels were all higher in US individuals , whereas smoking , hypertension and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were higher in Europeans . Mean CIMT levels were the same in both population s , and the percentage of individuals with ≥ 2 CHD risk factors was similar . Increased baseline CIMT ( > 2 mm ) was related to increasing age , male gender , smoking , hypertension and lipid levels . Conclusions : In this global trial , differences in baseline characteristics between participants from the USA and Europe are apparent . However , a strong association between CIMT and several cardiovascular risk factors was observed across the two continents . Trial registration : Clinical Trials.gov identifier : NCT00225589
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 .