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 .
Cholesterol lowering in the elderly. Results of the Cholesterol Reduction in Seniors Program (CRISP) pilot study.
BACKGROUND Total and lipoprotein cholesterol levels continue to be predictors of coronary heart disease risk in men and women over 65 years old . Cholesterol-lowering trials , however , while sometimes including such subjects , have not concentrated on this age group . The Cholesterol Reduction in Seniors Program was a five-center pilot study to assess feasibility of recruitment and efficacy of cholesterol lowering in this age group . METHODS The study was a r and omized , double-masked clinical trial with placebo , 20-mg lovastatin , and 40-mg lovastatin arms . Major efforts were made to recruit women and minorities . Participants were followed up for 1 year on a cholesterol-lowering diet plus placebo or study drug . End points were changes in blood lipid levels . Data on other blood chemistry values , as well as quality -of-life measures and coronary heart disease morbidity and mortality , were also collected . RESULTS Four hundred thirty-one subjects with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels greater than 4.1 and less than 5.7 mmol/L ( 159 and 221 mg/dL ) were r and omized , of whom 71 % were women and 21 % were African Americans ; the mean age was 71 years . In the 20- and 40-mg lovastatin groups , total cholesterol levels fell 17 % and 20 % ; low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels fell 24 % and 28 % ; triglyceride levels fell 4.4 % and 9.9 % , respectively . High-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels rose 7.0 % and 9.0 % , respectively . No changes were observed in the placebo group . Gender , race , and age did not significantly affect responses . Coronary heart disease morbidity and mortality data were collected but not analyzed for this study . CONCLUSION Older subjects of both genders and a variety of racial and ethnic groups can be successfully recruited into a cholesterol-lowering trial . Lovastatin has effects similar to those reported in younger subjects in previous controlled trials . There is little advantage to the higher lovastatin daily dose . Side effects were remarkably low in all groups
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 .