Cholesterol-lowering Drugs Reduce Risk Of Stroke, Heart Attack

[Whoa182]

:)

Date: May 8, 2007

Cholesterol-lowering Drugs Reduce Risk Of Stroke, Heart Attack
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070502172322.htm

Science Daily — People whose cholesterol improved after one month on cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins reduced their risk of stroke and heart attack, according to research presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 59th Annual Meeting in Boston, April 28 -- May 5, 2007.

The study enrolled 4,731 people within one to six months of having a stroke or transient ischemic attack, or mini-stroke, and with no history of heart disease. Half of the participants received the cholesterol-lowering drug atorvastatin and half received a placebo. The participants were then followed for an average of four and a half years.

For each 10-percent decrease in LDL, or low-density lipoprotein "bad" cholesterol, the risk of stroke was reduced by four percent and the risk of heart attack was reduced by seven percent. The average decrease in LDL cholesterol after one month on atorvastatin was 53 percent.

"These findings reinforce the importance of controlling cholesterol," said study author Pierre Amarenco, MD, of Denis Diderot University in Paris, France, and Fellow member of the American Academy of Neurology. "It's encouraging to see that reducing cholesterol so quickly can have positive long-term effects."

People with higher levels of HDL, or high-density lipoprotein "good" cholesterol, at the beginning of the study and after one month had a lower risk of stroke.

The study was part of a large study called the Stroke Prevention by Aggressive Reduction in Cholesterol Levels (SPARCL) trial.

The study was supported by Pfizer Inc, the maker of atorvastatin.

Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by American Academy of Neurology.

[64dodger]

The study was supported by Pfizer Inc, the maker of atorvastatin.

That is all I need to know.

[bluesmoke]

Yup statins may reduce the risk for heart attack to some degree, tho less than one might be led to believe. The kicker is that in tests, the overall mortality rate doesn't vary between the test and control groups. You just die of other things if you take them. Nyah Levi

[TBoneMitch]

Look at the % reductions:

For each 10-percent decrease in LDL, or low-density lipoprotein "bad" cholesterol, the risk of stroke was reduced by four percent and the risk of heart attack was reduced by seven percent. The average decrease in LDL cholesterol after one month on atorvastatin was 53 percent.

Let's not forget that these are relative risk reductions and not RATE reductions.

[renegadiab]

They reduce the risk, but not by lowering cholesterol. Statins have other effects, such as anti-inflamatory effects, that tend to prevent plaque buildup.

Dr. Mike Eads posted an analysis of an article in the Lancet stating that statins provide no benefit to women or the elderly in preventing heart attack. The only benefit from statins is to middle age men with existing cardiovascular disease. The relative risk reduction may sound impressive. However, the absolute risk reduction for that group is only 1.5%. You would have to treat 67 people with statins for 5 years to prevent one serious cardiovascular event.

http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/?p=510

Dr. Eads also has a good recent post on relative risk.

http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/?p=639

[brobin]

If they added one more group (using low dose aspirin), they would find that aspirin did the same or better then the statins (based on studies I have seen of relative effectiveness). This again would show that it is not the cholesterol lowering, but the anti-inflammatory effects that are helping.

Of course, no drug company wants to show that a non-patent protected, dirt cheap drug is effective. Where is the profit in that. :)

[Gostrydr]

Lets not forget that Statins inhibit the production of Co10 which is vital for a healthy heart..