Global study lays groundwork for daily statin usage to prevent heart disease
Apr-09-2016

In an effort to reduce cardiovascular disease, which causes 18 million deaths globally per year and affects more than 1 billion adults worldwide, researchers are suggesting the daily usage of cholesterol lowering drugs, called statins, according to a study released in the New England Journal of Medicine.

In a trial spanning six continents, 21 countries and 12,705 ethnically diverse participants, the researchers randomly assigned placebos and low dosages of statins or antihypertensives, such as rosuvastatin and candesartan plus hydrochlorothiazide. The study is the first of its kind to include a diverse group of of patients. Some 80% of participants were not white.

All were at intermediate risk for cardiovascular disease but did not have it. The study included men 55 and older and women who were 65 and older with at least one risk factor for heart disease, from family history to obesity. Otherwise, their cholesterol levels were moderate and blood pressure was under the high benchmark, of 140 over 90.

Over 5.6 years, 3.7% of those who got 10 milligrams of the statin had heart attacks, strokes or heart-related deaths compared with 4.8% of those taking a placebo, or dummy pill. That was a 24% reduction in risk among those who took 10 milligrams of the drug Crestor. The researchers believe the same effect would occur in patients using the same dose of any statin.

Side effects of the dual treatment group taking statins and antihypertensives included muscle weakness and dizziness, which are known side effects associated with these medications.

According to the study authors, "the HOPE-3 trial provides evidence to reinforce some current guideline recommendations and to influence future guidelines."

The trial was funded by Canadian Institutes of Health and Research and AstraZeneca, the pharmaceutical company that makes the statin Crestor, which was used in the study, among other drugs. The findings were also presented at the annual scientific meeting of the American College of Cardiology, ongoing through Wednesday. The trial combined two studies that looked specifically at lowering blood pressure and lowering cholesterol.

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