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 .
Primary prevention of vascular events in patients with high levels of C-reactive protein: the JUPITER study
The Justification for the Use of Statins in Primary Prevention : An Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin ( JUPITER ) study was the first large-scale , prospect i ve study to examine the benefits of statin therapy in subjects with elevated levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein but with low-to-normal LDL-cholesterol levels , who were not qualified for lipid-lowering treatment according to the current guidelines for primary prevention . The JUPITER study aim ed to determine whether rosuvastatin 20 mg daily would reduce the rate of first major cardiovascular events , including cardiovascular death , nonfatal stroke , nonfatal myocardial infa rct ion , hospitalization for unstable angina or arterial revascularization .  Rosuvastatin reduced LDL-cholesterol levels by 50 % and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein by 37 % . Compared with placebo , the combined primary end point was reduced in 44 % ( p < 0.00001 ) , and total mortality in 20 % ( p = 0.02 ) . The trial confirmed the relationship between the rates of major cardiovascular events with both high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and LDL-cholesterol levels achieved after statin treatment . Interestingly , this was the first large , prospect i ve statin trial to show benefit in the reduction of venous thromboembolism
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 .