A meta-analysis appearing in the July 24 edition of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology reveals that patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) have a significantly reduced risk of heart attacks and death from CAD if they are treated with high-dose statin therapy.
Investigators analyzed data from 4 recent clinical trials comparing high-dose to regular-dose statin therapy, that included a total of over 27,000 patients with CAD. They showed a highly significant 16% reduction in the risk of coronary death or heart attack, and also a highly significant 16% reduction in the risk of coronary death or any cardiovascular event, in patients treated with high-dose statin therapy. They also found an 18% reduction in the risk of stroke with high-dose therapy.
The investigators found no evidence of increased side effects in high-dose vs. regular-dose statin therapy.
Based on these results, doctors should strongly consider using high-dose statin therapy in patients who have known coronary artery disease.
Source:
Cannon CP, Steinberg BA, Murphy SA, et al. Meta-analysis of cardiovascular outcomes trials comparing intensive versus moderate statin therapy. Journal of the American College of Cardiology2006;48:438-445.
