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 .
Simvastatin treatment in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis receiving interferon beta 1a: a double-blind randomized controlled trial
Objectives : This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of simvastatin ( 40 mg/day ) as an adjuvant therapy to interferon beta ( IFNb 1a , 30 µg once weekly ) in relapsing — remitting multiple sclerosis patients , compared with placebo . Methods : We enrolled 85 patients with relapsing — remitting multiple sclerosis ( 71 % female ) who were already receiving IFNb 1a ( Avonex ) , with Exp and ed Disability Status Scale score of less than 5.0 . The patients were assigned ( in r and om and double-blinded fashion ) into the two groups of simvastatin and placebo . All patients continued to receive their current IFNb treatment . The outcome measures were total relapse rate , Exp and ed Disability Status Scale score , and the number of gadolinium-enhanced ( Gd+ ) and new T2 lesions in magnetic resonance imaging after a 1-year follow-up . We used Mann — Whitney and one-way multivariate analysis of variances to analyze the data . Results : Four patients in the placebo and two in the simvastatin group prematurely withdrew from the study due to experiencing two attacks . The total attack number in the simvastatin group was significantly lower than placebo group ( moderate effect size r = 0.29 ) ( p = 0.01 ) . The final Exp and ed Disability Status Scale scores were lower in the simvastatin group ( 1.01 ± 1.40 , mean ± SD ) than in the placebo group ( 1.73 ± 1.49 , mean ± SD ) , but this difference was not significant after controlling the baseline Exp and ed Disability Status Scale score ( p = 0.07 ) . In the simvastatin group , the mean ± SD of gadolinium-enhanced and new T2 lesions were 0.66 ± 1.18 and 3.39 ± 3.55 , respectively , ( compared with 0.74 ± 1.21 and 3.39 ± 3.55 in the placebo group ) . Although there was a decreasing trend in lesions on magnetic resonance imaging , this difference was not statistically significant ( p = 0.62 ) . The combination therapy was safe and well tolerated , and no serious adverse effect was noted . Conclusion : Our study supports the safety and efficacy of simvastatin as an add-on therapy to INFb 1a in patients with relapsing — remitting multiple sclerosis . TRIAL REGISTRATION : Clinical Trials.gov NCT00668343 . This interventional study provides Class I evidence stating that adding simvastatin 40 mg/day to IFNb 1a 30 µg a week in patients with relapsing — remitting multiple sclerosis may reduce the relapse rate ( moderate effect size r = 0.29 ) ( p = 0.01 ) compared with treatment with IFNb 1a alone
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 .