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 .
Baseline characteristics of participants in the JUPITER trial, a randomized placebo-controlled primary prevention trial of statin therapy among individuals with low low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein.
The Justification for the Use of statins in Primary prevention : an Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin ( JUPITER ) is a r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled primary prevention trial of statin therapy among persons with average to low levels of low-density lipoprotein ( LDL ) cholesterol who are at increased cardiovascular risk due to elevated plasma concentrations of the inflammatory biomarker high-sensitivity C-reactive protein ( hs-CRP ) . A total of 17,802 persons with LDL cholesterol<130 mg/dl ( 3.36 mmol/L ) and hs-CRP > or=2 mg/L were recruited from 26 countries and r and omly allocated to 20 mg/day rosuvastatin or placebo . In contrast to previous studies of statin therapy in primary prevention , JUPITER is evaluating a group with modest plasma concentrations of LDL cholesterol ( median 108 mg/dl , interquartile range 94 to 119 ) . Further , the trial includes 6,801 women ( 38.2 % ) and 5,577 participants with metabolic syndrome ( 32.1 % ) . Thus , in addition to broadening our underst and ing of statin therapy and inflammation , the JUPITER trial will provide important and clinical ly relevant information on primary prevention among patients who do not currently qualify for lipid-lowering therapy . In conclusion , as 20 mg of rosuvastatin can reduce LDL cholesterol by up to 50 % , JUPITER will also provide crucial safety data for several thous and patients who should achieve LDL cholesterol levels<50 mg/dl on a long-term basis
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 .