Who Might Be Eligible to Receive Statins for Primary Prevention?

Roughly four out of five older Americans might, according to results of the JUPITER trial.

Results of the Justification for the Use of Statins in Primary Prevention: An Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin (JUPITER) demonstrated that the statin rosuvastatin reduced the risk for cardiovascular events in patients with elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels (hsCRP ≥2 mg/L) but with LDL levels below 130 mg/dL, the guideline indication for statin therapy (JW Cardiol Nov 10 2008). The impact of this study has been far-reaching, but, to date, no systematic estimates of its public health implications have been made.

In this analysis of NHANES data from 1999 to 2004, investigators estimated that nearly 60% of men aged ≥50 and women aged ≥60 (33.5 million Americans) have an indication for statin therapy according to curre…

Reviewing Author

JoAnne M. Foody, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardAegerion; Amarin; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Janssen; Merck; Pfizer; Sanofi-Aventis; Boehringer Ingelheim

Leadership positions in professional societiesAmerican College of Cardiology, Cardiosmart (Co-chair)

JoAnne M. Foody, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardAegerion; Amarin; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Janssen; Merck; Pfizer; Sanofi-Aventis; Boehringer Ingelheim

Leadership positions in professional societiesAmerican College of Cardiology, Cardiosmart (Co-chair)

Who Might Be Eligible to Receive Statins for Primary Prevention?

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Reviewing Author