Statins Prevent Vascular Events, Independent of Baseline CRP Levels

Contrary to some claims, statins benefited high-risk patients with low C-reactive protein levels.

In the 2008 JUPITER trial, healthy adults — with LDL cholesterol levels <130 mg/dL and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels ≥2 mg/L — who received rosuvastatin (20 mg daily) for 2 years experienced significantly fewer cardiovascular endpoints than those who received placebo (JW Gen Med Nov 18 2008). JUPITER suggested that statins had particular benefits in patients with high baseline CRP levels whose risk was otherwise low, perhaps through an anti-inflammatory effect.

In the industry-supported Heart Protection Study, >20,000 U.K. adults at high risk for vascular events received simvastatin (40 mg) or placebo daily for a mean of 5 years. Overall, patients who received simvastatin had 24% fewer first vascular events (myocardial infarction, stroke, …

Reviewing Author

Bruce Soloway, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsNew RoAR News (http://www.newroarnews.org)

Bruce Soloway, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsNew RoAR News (http://www.newroarnews.org)

Statins Prevent Vascular Events, Independent of Baseline CRP Levels

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Reviewing Author