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 .
The West of Scotland coronary prevention study: economic benefit analysis of primary prevention with pravastatin
Abstract Objective : To estimate the economic efficiency of using pravastatin to prevent the transition from health to cardiovascular disease in men with hypercholesterolaemia . Design : Economic benefit analysis based on data from the West of Scotl and coronary prevention study . Treatment specific hazards of developing cardiovascular disease according to various definitions were estimated . Scottish record linkage data provided disease specific survival . Cost estimates were based on extracontractual tariffs and event specific average lengths of stay calculated from the West of Scotl and coronary prevention study . Subjects : Men with hypercholesterolaemia similar to the subjects in the West of Scotl and coronary prevention study . Main outcome : Cost consequences , the number of transitions from health to cardiovascular disease prevented , the number needed to start treatment , and cost per life year gained . Results : If 10 000 of these men started taking pravastatin  , 318 of them would not make the transition from health to cardiovascular disease ( number needed to treat , 31.4 ) , at a net discounted cost of £ 20 m over 5 years . These benefits imply an undiscounted gain of 2460 years of life , and thus £ 8121 per life year gained , or £ 20 375 per life year gained if benefits are discounted . Restriction to the 40 % of men at highest risk reduces the number needed to treat to 22.5 ( £ 5601 per life year gained ( undiscounted ) and £ 13 995 per life year gained ( discounted ) ) . Conclusions : In subjects without evidence of prior myocardial infa rct ion but who have hypercholesterolaemia , the use of pravastatin yields substantial health benefits at a cost that is not prohibitive overall and can be quite efficient in selected high risk subgroups . Key messages The West of Scotl and coronary prevention study showed that pravastatin can prevent cardiovascular disease in men with hypercholesterolaemia So far , reports have deemed this prevention unjustified due to adverse economic implication s This analysis , based on data from the West of Scotl and coronary prevention study and extensive data from the Scottish record linkage system , shows that using pravastatin in this way is worth considering because of its substantial clinical benefit at a reasonable cost Practitioners must now consider using pravastatin to prevent cardiovascular disease in men with hypercholesterolaemia Increased economic efficiency may be obtained by restricting prevention to patients with additional risk
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 .