Statins, used to reduce cholesterol levels, may also protect patients who have suffered from a heart attack from a repeat event.
Statins are normally prescribed to lower the rate of so-called “bad” cholesterol in the blood by reducing the production of this low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in the liver.
However, a new Canadian study has revealed that statins can also play an important role in preventing repeat heart attacks.
Researchers from the Institute of Clinical Evaluation Sciences and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, in Toronto, found that intensive doses of statins can stop older patients who have had a heart attack from recurring coronary events.
The study involved analysing the data of more than 17,000 patients over the age of 65 who had suffered a heart attack, comparing the details of those prescribed an intensive dose of statins with those prescribed a moderate dose when being discharged from hospital.
The five-year rate of death for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) was 44.8% for patients on high statin doses compared with a death rate of 46.5% for those on moderate doses. Both sets of patients faced a similar risk of developing type 2 diabetes in that five-year period.
The study concluded that doctors treating older patients with ACS should be more bold in prescribing high doses of statins to prevent those patients suffering a repeat heart attack.
Its findings were published in the journal Circulation Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
Comments are closed.