Pessimism is uncalled for

Editor,--We were saddened by the authors' nihilistic interpretation of the Oxcheck Study1 and British family heart study2 and cannot help wondering whether there is some subagenda. Why are the authors so pessimistic? These were short term studies and were conducted in unselected populations rather than high risk groups. Notwithstanding this, the OXCHECK study achieved a 2.3% reduction in serum cholesterol concentration and a 2.4% reduction in systolic blood pressure. If these reductions can be maintained long term then coronary and stroke prevention would follow. In the family heart study …