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In the recently published JUPITER trial, rosuvastatin (Crestor) lowered risks for cardiovascular events among men (age, ≥50) and women (age, ≥60) who had high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels ≥2.0 mg/L and LDL cholesterol levels <130 mg/dL (JW Nov 18 2008). However, based on guidelines from the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP), many of these patients would not receive statins. If the JUPITER selection criteria were applied to all middle-aged or older Americans, how many would become “eligible” for statin therapy?
In an analysis of data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) published in 2005, more than half of middle-aged or older Americans — 59%, 64%, and 65% of adults in their 50s, 60s,…