B, PH.D., professor, University Department of Pathological Biochemistry, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, Scotland. None of the participants had a previous heart attack. Mean follow-up was five years. By significantly decreasing the incidence of heart attack, therefore, it is anticipated that pravastatin therapy will have a favourable impact on healthcare expenditure. CARE is scheduled for completion in February 1996.
Pravastatin is generally well tolerated.
The most common side effects include mild and transient skin rash and gastrointestinal upset, and are similar to those seen with placebo. It was conducted in and around the West Coast of Scotland, where the population utilises a highly centralised primary-care service and few people move in and out of the community, making it feasible to monitor participants over time.