What is the effect of statin therapy on coronary heart disease?
Several randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that statin therapy reduces the risk of major cardiovascular events in patients with coronary heart disease. The Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study (4S), the Cholesterol and Recurrent Events Trial (CARE), the Intervention with Pravastatin in Ischaemic Disease (LIPID) Study, the Atorvastatin Vs Revascularization Treatment (AVERT) trial, the MRC-BHF Heart Protection Study, and the Atorvastatin Intensive Lipid Lowering in Patients with Stable Coronary Disease (ALLIANCE) trial have all found that statin therapy reduces the risk of major cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction and stroke. Additionally, the C-Reactive Protein Levels and Outcomes After Statin Therapy (CRP-START) trial found that statin therapy was associated with a reduction in cardiovascular mortality. Finally, a meta-analysis conducted by Hebert et al. found that antihypertensive drug therapy was associated with a decreased risk of coronary heart disease. 