The real chances of benefit for the patient taking statins, according
the figures from Heart Protect Study are:
- 32 patients are needed to treat with statins in order to prevent 1
CHD event over 5 years
- 65 patients are needed to treat with statins in order to prevent 1
stroke over 5 years
- 82 patients are needed to treat with statins in order to prevent 1 CHD
death over 5 years
- 366 patients are needed to treat with statins in order to prevent 1
death by other vascular causes over 5 years
- 58 patients are needed to treat with statins in order to prevent 1 death
by any causes over 5 years
1. Medical Research Council/British Heart Foundation Heart Protection
Study. Press release. Life-saver: World’s largest cholesterol-lowering
trial reveals massive benefits for high-risk patients. At http://www.ctsu.ox.ac.uk/~hps/pr.shtml
2. Kmietowicz Z. Statins are the new aspirin, Oxford researchers say. BMJ
2001; 323: 1145
Rapid Response:
Translating the numbers of HPS into reality.
Statins as the new aspirin
Sir
The real chances of benefit for the patient taking statins, according
the figures from Heart Protect Study are:
- 32 patients are needed to treat with statins in order to prevent 1
CHD event over 5 years
- 65 patients are needed to treat with statins in order to prevent 1
stroke over 5 years
- 82 patients are needed to treat with statins in order to prevent 1 CHD
death over 5 years
- 366 patients are needed to treat with statins in order to prevent 1
death by other vascular causes over 5 years
- 58 patients are needed to treat with statins in order to prevent 1 death
by any causes over 5 years
1. Medical Research Council/British Heart Foundation Heart Protection
Study. Press release. Life-saver: World’s largest cholesterol-lowering
trial reveals massive benefits for high-risk patients. At
http://www.ctsu.ox.ac.uk/~hps/pr.shtml
2. Kmietowicz Z. Statins are the new aspirin, Oxford researchers say. BMJ
2001; 323: 1145
Carlos Monteiro, secretary
Infarct Combat Project
secretary@infarctcombat.org
http://www.infarctcombat.org
Competing interests: No competing interests