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 .
Beneficial effects of pravastatin on fasting hyperinsulinemia in elderly hypertensive hypercholesterolemic subjects.
We undertook this prospect i ve double-blind , placebo-controlled study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of low-dose ( 15 mg ) pravastatin in elderly hypercholesterolemic hypertensive subjects with concurrent antihypertensive treatment and to determine whether fasting hyperinsulinemia could also be improved . At three hypertension and lipid clinics of two medical centers , 96 elderly ( 49 women , 47 men ) ambulatory subjects were r and omized to active treatment or placebo for 12 months after a 3-month single-blind lead-in period . Hypertensive subjects with plasma total cholesterol levels of at least 6.47 mmol/L ( 250 mg/dL ) and triglyceride levels less than 3.39 mmol/L ( 300 mg/dL ) were treated with 15 mg pravastatin for 12 months after receiving 3 months of the American Heart Association step I diet . Lipid , glucose , and fasting insulin levels were measured ; clinical laboratory tests included liver function and creatine kinase determinations . After 12 months of pravastatin therapy , plasma total cholesterol concentration decreased by 25.1 % ( from a mean of 7.29 to 5.47 mmol/L , P < .05 ) , low-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased by 30.2 % ( from 5.27 to 3.68 mmol/L , P < .05 ) , and triglycerides decreased by 10.7 % ( from 1.68 to 1.50 mmol/L , P < .05 ) . High-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased by 9.2 % ( from 1.20 to 1.31 mmol/L , P < .05 ) . Fasting insulin levels decreased from 89.0 to 61.5 pmol/L ( P < .05 ) . All of these changes were greater ( P < .05 ) than any tendency toward change in the placebo group . Adverse events and clinical laboratory abnormalities were generally mild and transient in both placebo and pravastatin groups . Study drugs were withdrawn from one subject in each group with asymptomatic creatine kinase elevations . We conclude that low-dose pravastatin was effective and safe in the treatment of hypercholesterolemic hypertensive subjects on concurrent antihypertensive therapy . It also improved fasting hyperinsulinemia despite the use of beta-blockers and diuretics in these hypertensive subjects
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 .