More people could benefit from statins
13 November 2008
The use of statins in low-risk groups needs to be put into context with non-pharmacological interventions, such as physical activity, stopping smoking and improving diet 
Dr Mike Knapton, Associate Medical Director, British Heart Foundation
| Preventing heart attacks and strokes |
|---|
|
A medicine normally used to prevent heart attacks and strokes in people who have high cholesterol may also benefit people with normal cholesterol levels, according to research published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
The JUPITER trial looked at whether rosuvastatin could prevent heart attacks and strokes in people who didn't have high cholesterol - but who did have a high level of a substance called C-reactive protein (CRP) in their blood. It's thought that a high CRP may predict the risk of heart attack and stroke.
The trial involved nearly 18,000 men and women from 26 countries around the world. Only men over the age of 50 and women over the age of 60, who had low levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high CRP levels, were included. Half of the volunteers were given the cholesterol-lowering medicine, rosuvastatin, while the other half received a placebo (dummy pill).
Over a period of almost two years, 83 out of the 8,901 people who took rosuvastatin (0.9 percent of this group) had a heart attack, stroke or died compared with 157 out of the 8,901 people who took the placebo (1.8 percent of this group).
However, the researchers also found that more people who took rosuvastatin were diagnosed with diabetes during the study period than people who took the placebo. More long-term research is needed before the importance of this finding can be determined.
Speaking to the Bupa health information team, Dr Mike Knapton, Associate Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation commented, "This is a very important study: it shows that statins work, that they are safe, and that the lower your cholesterol the better."
However, he added: "The use of statins in low-risk groups needs to be put into context with non-pharmacological interventions, such as physical activity, stopping smoking and improving diet. These are all effective ways to reduce your cardiovascular risk."
So what should you do if you're concerned about your risk of cardiovascular disease? "Visit your doctor or nurse," says Dr Knapton, "have a vascular assessment, and then you can consider your options - be it lifestyle changes or medication."
Related information
Back to the latest health news
