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 .
Two-year statin therapy does not alter the progression of intima-media thickness in patients with type 2 diabetes without manifest cardiovascular disease.
OBJECTIVE Cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) is the most important cause of mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes . We aim ed to determine the effect of statin therapy versus placebo on the progression of carotid intima-media thickness ( IMT ) in type 2 diabetic patients without manifest CVD . RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A r and omized , placebo-controlled , double-blind clinical trial was performed in 250 patients with type 2 diabetes . Patients were given either 0.4 mg cerivastatin or placebo daily . In August 2001 , when cerivastatin was withdrawn from the market , 0.4 mg cerivastatin was replaced by 20 mg simvastatin without deblinding the study . The primary end point was the change of mean common carotid IMT , as measured by B-mode ultrasound , over 2 years . RESULTS Common carotid IMT at baseline was 0.780 mm in the placebo group and 0.763 mm in the statin group and did not change significantly after 2 years . There was no significant difference in IMT change in any carotid segment between the groups . LDL cholesterol was reduced by 25 % in the statin group and increased by 8 % in the placebo group ( P < 0.001 ) . Cardiovascular events occurred in 12 patients in the placebo group and two patients in the statin group ( P=0.006 ) . CONCLUSIONS There was no effect of 2 years ' statin therapy on carotid IMT in type 2 diabetic subjects . The natural history of IMT in our patients was milder than anticipated . In contrast , we observed a significantly lower cardiovascular event rate on statin therapy . Prognostic tools other than IMT should be explored in this patient group
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 .