Back to Journals » Vascular Health and Risk Management » Volume 5

Efficacy, effectiveness and real life goal attainment of statins in managing cardiovascular risk

Authors Goldenberg N, Glueck C

Published 29 April 2009 Volume 2009:5 Pages 369—376

DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/VHRM.S3241

Review by Single anonymous peer review

Peer reviewer comments 4



Naila Goldenberg1,2, Charles Glueck1

1Cholesterol and Metabolism Center of Jewish Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; 2University of Cincinnati, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Abstract: Statins became available for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia in 1987. Multiple, well-designed, placebo-controlled, double-blind studies revealed that each 1% reduction in serum cholesterol level was associated with about 1% reduction in risk of cardiovascular events. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol reduction to less than 78 mg/dL may be associated with reduction of atheroma burden. Patients with high levels of high specificity C-reactive protein and having LDL cholesterol less than 3.4 mmol/L (130 mg/dL) in primary prevention settings benefited from aggressive LDL cholesterol reduction with rosuvastatin over a 2-year period. However, in real life practice, about half of patients who are prescribed statins discontinue the medication by the end of the year. Medication adherence is lower in younger patients, women, and absence of known coronary heart disease. Personal features of the prescribing physician and dispensing pharmacies also affect patients’ compliance. More studies are needed to evaluate if “compliance packets” would benefit patients in a real life situation.

Keywords: cardiovascular risk, statin, goal attainment, primary prevention, secondary prevention

Creative Commons License © 2009 The Author(s). This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License. By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.