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 .
Comparison of one-year efficacy and safety of atorvastatin versus lovastatin in primary hypercholesterolemia. Atorvastatin Study Group I.
This double-blind study to evaluate long-term efficacy and safety of atorvastatin was performed in 31 community- and university-based research centers in the USA to directly compare a new 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitor ( reductase inhibitor ) to an accepted drug of this class in patients with moderate hypercholesterolemia . Participants remained on a cholesterol-lowering diet throughout the study . One thous and forty-nine patients were r and omized to receive atorvastatin 10 mg , lovastatin 20 mg , or placebo . At 16 weeks the placebo group was r and omized to either atorvastatin or lovastatin treatment . At 22 weeks , patients who had not met low-density lipoprotein ( LDL ) cholesterol target levels doubled the dose of reductase inhibitor . Efficacy evaluation was mean percent change from baseline in LDL cholesterol , triglycerides , total cholesterol , high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol , and apolipoprotein B ( apoB ) . Safety profiles as determined by change from baseline in laboratory evaluations , ophthalmologic parameters , and reporting of adverse events were similar for the 2 reductase inhibitors . After 52 weeks , the atorvastatin group maintained a significantly greater reduction in LDL cholesterol ( -37 % vs -29 % ) , triglyceride ( -16 % vs -8 % ) , total cholesterol ( -27 % vs -21 % ) , and apoB ( -30 % vs -22 % ) ( p < 0.05 ) . More patients receiving atorvastatin achieved LDL cholesterol target levels than did lovastatin patients ( 78 % vs 63 % , respectively ) , particularly those with coronary heart disease ( 37 % vs 11 % , respectively ) . Atorvastatin is highly effective and well tolerated in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia with no increased risk of adverse events
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 .