Statins reduce stroke, heart attack in patients at risk

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Stroke and heart attack reduced in patients who are on statins.
Statins are drugs which can lower cholesterol and have many benefits for those at risk of heart disease. In a new study, researchers at New York Medical College, compare patients with known arterial disease who were, and were not, treated with statins.

These patients were at high risk of heart attack or stroke and had not undergone treatment to open up their blocked arteries. Most started off with high cholesterol. Those on statins had a 15 per cent rate of death, stroke or heart attack. In those not on statins, the corresponding rate was 68 per cent. The statins were effective among those who did, and did not, have diabetes. The new findings suggest that statins should always be considered as part of the risk management strategy for those with arterial disease who also have high cholesterol.

Source
Chest meeting 23rd October 2006

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