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 .
Fluvastatin and lifestyle modification for reduction of carotid intima-media thickness and left ventricular mass progression in drug-treated hypertensives.
OBJECTIVES The Hypertension High Risk Management trial ( HYRIM ) investigated the effect of fluvastatin treatment and lifestyle intervention on development of carotid intima-media thickness ( IMT ) in drug-treated hypertensive patients . METHODS AND RESULTS HYRIM was a placebo-controlled , 2 x 2 factorial trial in which 568 drug-treated hypertensive men aged 40 - 74 years with total cholesterol 4.5 - 8.0 mmol/L , triglycerides < 4.5 mmol/L , body mass index 25 - 35 kg/m2 , and a sedentary lifestyle were r and omized to receive either fluvastatin , 40 mg daily , or placebo , and either intensive lifestyle intervention ( physical activity and diet ) or usual care ( treatment of hypertension and other disorders by own private physician ) . Carotid IMT was assessed by B-mode ultrasound vasculography and left ventricular ( LV ) mass was calculated from ultrasound recordings of the heart . Fluvastatin alone reduced the primary study endpoint of 4-year development of IMT in the common carotid artery ( CCA ) compared with placebo ( p=0.0297 ) . Carotid bulb IMT progression over 4 years was also significantly ( p=0.0214 ) reduced by fluvastatin compared with placebo . Fluvastatin significantly lowered LDL-C levels ( mean net difference through 4 years , 0.6 mmol/L ; p<0.0001 ) , and reduced the 2-year development of LV mass ( p=0.0144 ) compared with placebo . Lifestyle intervention had no significant effect on LDL-C , carotid IMT or LV mass , and did not increase the effects of fluvastatin . CONCLUSIONS In drug-treated hypertensive patients in a usual care setting , fluvastatin treatment reduces progression of carotid IMT and LV mass
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 .