Based on moderate quality evidence , due to concerns about risk of bias and imprecision , initiation of statin therapy within 14 days following ACS does not reduce death , myocardial infa rct ion , or stroke up to four months , but reduces the occurrence of unstable angina at four months following ACS .
Serious side effects were rare
BACKGROUND The early period following the onset of acute coronary syndrome ( ACS ) represents a critical stage of coronary heart disease , with a high risk of recurrent events and deaths .
The short-term effects of early treatment with statins on patient-relevant outcomes in patients suffering from ACS are unclear .
This is an up date of a review previously published in 2011 .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects , both harms and benefits , of early administered statins in patients with ACS , in terms of mortality and cardiovascular events .
The effect of early statin treatment on inflammation and cardiac events in acute coronary syndrome patients with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol
We investigated the effects of atorvastatin on inflammation and cardiac events during the inpatient period and initial 6-month follow-up in acute coronary syndrome ( ACS ) patients with low low-density lipoprotein ( LDL ) cholesterol level . One hundred and twelve consecutive ACS patients with LDL cholesterol less than 100 mg/dl were included in the study ( mean 78.2 ± 12.3 mg/dl ) . While 70 r and omly selected patients received a dose of 40 mg atorvastatin within the first 24 h on top of their st and ard treatment as the atorvastatin group , the remaining 42 patients considered as the control group were given the st and ard treatment only , i.e. , without any lipid-lowering drug therapy .  Lipid profile , high-sensitivity C-reactive protein ( hsCRP ) , and plasma amyloid A ( SAA ) levels were measured in all patients within the first 24 h of chest pain , on the 5th day , and in the 6th month . During the inpatient period and subsequent 6-month follow-up , all episodes of angina , reinfa rct ion , revascularization , heart failure , rehospitalization , cardiac mortality , and total number of cardiac events were recorded . In the atorvastatin group , hsCRP and SAA values on the 5th day and in the 6th month compared to the first 24 h were significantly lower than those of the control group ( P < 0.0001 ) . Mean LDL cholesterol level was significantly decreased in the atorvastatin group ( 55.7 ± 17.7 mg/dl ) , but there was no significant change in the control group at the 6th month . The frequency of heart failure during the inpatient period and angina , unstable angina pectoris , heart failure , and revascularization in the first 6 months were also significantly reduced in the atorvastatin group . Atorvastatin started in the first 24 h reduces inflammation and improves the prognosis during both the inpatient period and the first 6 months of clinical follow-up in ACS patients with low LDL cholesterol levels
Based on moderate quality evidence , due to concerns about risk of bias and imprecision , initiation of statin therapy within 14 days following ACS does not reduce death , myocardial infa rct ion , or stroke up to four months , but reduces the occurrence of unstable angina at four months following ACS .
Serious side effects were rare
BACKGROUND The early period following the onset of acute coronary syndrome ( ACS ) represents a critical stage of coronary heart disease , with a high risk of recurrent events and deaths .
The short-term effects of early treatment with statins on patient-relevant outcomes in patients suffering from ACS are unclear .
This is an up date of a review previously published in 2011 .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects , both harms and benefits , of early administered statins in patients with ACS , in terms of mortality and cardiovascular events .