The benefits of statin therapy do not come without financial cost
The aim of the recently reported Heart Protection Study1 in the United Kingdom, with over 20 000 participants aged 40–80 years, was to establish whether statin therapy is of benefit to people who are at high risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) but have average-to-low levels of total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol. High-risk patients (defined as those having previous coronary heart disease, diabetes, stroke, or peripheral vascular disease) were treated with simvastatin (40 mg daily), antioxidant vitamins (20 mg beta-carotene, 250 mg vitamin C and 600 mg vitamin E daily) or placebo in a 2 × 2 factorial design.
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The author has served in an advisory capacity to government and non-government bodies, including pharmaceutical companies, and has received support for clinical research, presentations and attendance at scientific meetings from these bodies.