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 .
A Prospective Study of Pravastatin in the Elderly at Risk (PROSPER): Screening Experience and Baseline Characteristics
Background PROSPER was design ed to investigate the benefits of treatment with pravastatin in elderly patients for whom a typical doctor might consider the prescription of statin therapy to be a realistic option . Methods The PROspect i ve Study of Pravastatin in the Elderly at Risk ( PROSPER ) is a r and omised , double blind , placebo-controlled trial to test the hypothesis that treatment with pravastatin ( 40 mg/day ) will reduce the risk of coronary heart disease death , non-fatal myocardial infa rct ion , and fatal or non-fatal stroke in elderly men and women with pre-existing vascular disease or with significant risk of developing this condition . Results In Scotl and , Irel and , and the Netherl and s , 23,770 individuals were screened , and 5,804 subjects ( 2,804 men and 3,000 women ) , aged 70 to 82 years ( average 75 years ) and with baseline cholesterol 4.0–9.0 mmol/l , were r and omised . R and omised subjects had similar distributions with respect to age , blood pressure , and body mass index when compared to the entire group of screenees , but had a higher prevalence of smoking , diabetes , hypertension , and a history of vascular disease . The average total cholesterol level at baseline was 5.4 mmol/l ( men ) and 6.0 mmol/l ( women ) . Conclusions Compared with previous prevention trials of cholesterol-lowering drugs , the PROSPER cohort is significantly older and for the first time includes a majority of women . The study , having achieved its initial goal of recruiting more than 5,500 elderly high-risk men and women , aims to complete all final subject follow-up visits in the first half of 2002 with the main results being available in the fourth quarter of 2002
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 .