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 .
Full-dose atorvastatin versus conventional medical therapy after non-ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction in patients with advanced non-revascularisable coronary artery disease
Abstract Aims : This study tested the hypothesis that the addition of full-dose atorvastatin ( 80 mg/day ) to conventional medical treatment could reduce ischaemic recurrences after non-ST-elevation acute myocardial infa rct ion ( NSTE-AMI ) in patients with severe and diffuse coronary artery disease ( CAD ) not amenable to any form of mechanical revascularisation . Methods and results : The study was an open-label , r and omised , controlled , blinded end-point classification trial , employing the PROBE ( Prospect i ve Open Treatment and Blinded End Point Evaluation ) design . A total of 290 patients ( mean age 74.6 ± 9.6 years ) with NSTE-AMI and angiographic evidence of severe and diffuse CAD , not amenable to revascularisation by either coronary surgery or angioplasty , were r and omised to atorvastatin 80 mg/day  ( n = 144 ) or conventional medical treatment ( n = 146 ) . A primary end point event ( combination of cardiovascular death , non-fatal acute myocardial reinfa rct ion and disabling stroke within 12 months of r and omisation ) occurred in 16.0 % of patients treated with atorvastatin 80 mg/day and in 26.7 % of patients receiving conventional treatment ( HR 0.56 ; 95 % CI 0.33–0.93 , p = 0.027 ) . The study was not blinded . Consequently , a bias in the assessment of clinical outcome can not be completely excluded . Conclusions : In conclusion , when compared with a conventional treatment strategy , full-dose therapy with atorvastatin 80 mg/day provides greater protection against ischaemic recurrences after NSTE-AMI in patients with severe , diffuse , non-revascularisable CAD
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 .