25th October 2006
JAMA December 18, 2002;288:1998-3007,3042-3044
Numerous studies have shown that statins, drugs to lower cholesterol, can reduce rates of heart disease and prevent heart disease by lowering cholesterol levels, however a new study involving the statin pravastatin, known as Pravachol, proved otherwise.
In the study, which compared the effects of pravastatin versus the usual care recommended by physicians on cholesterol levels of over 10,000 people, found that the drug did not reduce the risk of death or heart disease in those with moderately high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Though statins have been the subject of many clinical trials, groups of people, such as women and certain racial groups, and individuals such as those with well-controlled hypertension and diabetes, were not adequately represented. The new study used a wide range of people -- made up of almost half women, 38 percent black, 35 percent with a history of diabetes, and 55 percent aged 65 years or older -- to assess the drug’s effects.
Results showed that pravastatin did indeed lower cholesterol, with a decrease of 17 percent in total cholesterol levels among those taking statin, compared with eight percent in the usual care group after four years of the study. Levels of LDL, bad cholesterol, had also dropped -- 28 percent among those taking pravastatin and 11 percent in the usual care group.
However, while lowered LDL cholesterol has been shown to reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack, study participants who took pravastatin and those who received usual care showed the same rates of death and heart disease.
Numerous studies have shown that statins, drugs to lower cholesterol, can reduce rates of heart disease and prevent heart disease by lowering cholesterol levels, however a new study involving the statin pravastatin, known as Pravachol, proved otherwise.
In the study, which compared the effects of pravastatin versus the usual care recommended by physicians on cholesterol levels of over 10,000 people, found that the drug did not reduce the risk of death or heart disease in those with moderately high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Though statins have been the subject of many clinical trials, groups of people, such as women and certain racial groups, and individuals such as those with well-controlled hypertension and diabetes, were not adequately represented. The new study used a wide range of people -- made up of almost half women, 38 percent black, 35 percent with a history of diabetes, and 55 percent aged 65 years or older -- to assess the drug’s effects.
Results showed that pravastatin did indeed lower cholesterol, with a decrease of 17 percent in total cholesterol levels among those taking statin, compared with eight percent in the usual care group after four years of the study. Levels of LDL, bad cholesterol, had also dropped -- 28 percent among those taking pravastatin and 11 percent in the usual care group.
However, while lowered LDL cholesterol has been shown to reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack, study participants who took pravastatin and those who received usual care showed the same rates of death and heart disease.