Posted by ed_uk2010 on December 8, 2013, at 3:03:30
In reply to 3 Reasons To Abandon LDL Levels For Statin Tx, posted by Phillipa on December 7, 2013, at 9:51:44
> Quite frankly don't know what to make of this are they saying that simply looking at LDL is the reaon? Not total cholesterol? Phillipa
>
> http://circoutcomes.ahajournals.org/content/5/1/2.fullBasically, the conclusion is that statins (especially atorvastatin) are useful for preventing cardiac events and that obsessing about getting cholesterol down to a very low target level may not be appropriate.
Statins are useful for patients at high risk of heart disease, and pts who already have heart disease. In pts at very high risk, and pts with established coronary heart disease, statins are used even when cholesterol levels are 'normal'. If cholesterol levels were abnormally low, they would not be rxed, but this situation is unusual in this population!
Atorvastatin (Lipitor) probably has the greatest evidence base of any lipid modulating drug in terms of proof that it reduces heart attacks etc. 10-40mg is common for general use. 80mg is standard for patients who've had a heart attack (MI) or severe prolonged angina episodes (acute coronary syndromes).
poster:ed_uk2010
thread:1055627
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20131115/msgs/1055679.html