UBC Faculty Research and Publications

Do statins have a role in primary prevention? An update. Therapeutics Initiative (University of British Columbia)

Description

Therapeutics Letter 77 explores the role of statins in primary prevention using Cochrane Collaboration methodology. Conclusions: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses are challenging and require much more than locating RCTs and plugging in the numbers. The claimed mortality benefit of statins for primary prevention is more likely a measure of bias than a real effect. The reduction in major CHD serious adverse events with statins as compared to placebo is not reflected in a reduction in total serious adverse events. Statins do not have a proven net health benefit in primary prevention populations and thus when used in that setting do not represent good use of scarce health care resources.

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Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International