Statins for Low-Risk Cardiac Patients
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Posted by Anthony Lee Nov 15, 2008 |
The surprising results of a drug study were announced this past week. A controlled trial of approximately 18,000 people with low LDL cholesterol but elevated levels of the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP) found that the cholesterol-lowering statin drug Crestor could reduce the incidence of cardiovascular events by half. Subjects receiving Crestor had significantly better results than those taking placebo. In fact, the study was conducted for two years instead of the originally planned four years.
These results appear to suggest that statins can also benefit low-risk cardiac patients, not just those with greater risk. However, like any new possible breakthrough, it may help to err on the side of caution. Some physicians, like myself, may wonder if long-term use of statins could provide more benefits than risks. Even if these drugs can lower cholesterol and prevent cardiovascular events, can they also cause liver damage or other side effects in a large number of people? We don't know that yet. Most importantly, the manufacturer of Crestor, Astra-Zeneca, sponsored this study, throwing in a major source of potential bias.
With that, I am keeping my eyes open on further developments on this issue. For the time being, lifestyle modifications remain helpful for lowering one's risk of cardiovascular disease.