Statin Studies
The Statins Studies
The Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study - 4S
Coronary heart disease patients with blood cholesterol levels between 5.5 and 8.0 mmols/l (215-312 mgs/100 mls) treated with simvastatin have their cardiac mortality reduced by 42% and their overall mortality by 30%.
The Cholesterol and Recurrent Events Study (CARE)
Post infarct patients with blood cholesterol levels below 6.0 mmols/l (234 mgs/100mls) treated with pravastatin (Lipostat) have a 24% reduction in fatal coronary events, a 26% reduction in bypass grafting, a 23% reduction in angioplasty and a 30% reduction in stroke. Their overall mortality is not reduced.
The Heart Protection Study (HPS)
Patients with coronary heart disease, other occlusive arterial disease or diabetes, treated with simvastatin have a 12% reduction in all-case mortality, an 18% reduction in coronary mortality, a 25% reduction in stroke and a 22% reduction in revascularisation..
The West of Scotland Coronary Prevention Trial (WOSCOP)
In people with raised cholesterol but without clinical heart disease, treatment for five years with pravastatin (Lipostat) reduces their mortality by 22% from 4.1 to 3.2%.
Statins are effective and are well tolerated - only 2% stopped their simvastatin on account of side effects in the 4S trial.
