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Heart Disease In The News Pravastatin reduces the risk of stroke This month's Circulation reports on data pooled from 3 clinical trials in which heart attack survivors were randomized to receive either the statin drug pravastatin, or placebo. Over 19,000 patients were randomized altogether, and they were followed for five years. The patients randomized to pravastatin in these trials had a 20% reduction in their risk of stroke. The reduced risk held for both men and women, older and younger patients, and those with high or only moderately elevated cholesterol levels. This study adds yet one more reason - a particularly compelling one - for doctors to be prescribing statin drugs to patients who survive heart attacks. Take our poll: Should statins be available over the counter? |
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