Even people with a low risk of heart problems can get just as much protection from statin pills as those at high risk — which surprises doctors because they used to think only high-risk people benefited much.

76

Pro

0

Against

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

76

Community contributions welcome

76

The effects of lowering LDL cholesterol with statin therapy in people at low risk of vascular disease: meta-analysis of individual data from 27 randomised trials

Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis

Human

Even people with a low chance of heart problems still benefit from statins just as much in percentage terms as those at high risk — meaning statins work well for everyone, not just the sickest.

Contradicting (0)

0

Community contributions welcome

No contradicting evidence found

Gold Standard Evidence Needed

According to GRADE and EBM methodology, here is what ideal scientific evidence would look like to definitively prove or disprove this specific claim, ordered from strongest to weakest evidence.

Source Study

The effects of lowering LDL cholesterol with statin therapy in people at low risk of vascular disease: meta-analysis of individual data from 27 randomised trials

Score: 76

DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60367-5

Similar Assertions

Even if you're not at high risk for a heart attack or stroke, taking statins can still cut your chances of serious heart or blood vessel problems by about the same amount as it does for people at high risk.

76

0

96%

Taking statins to lower your 'bad' cholesterol by a small amount can cut your chance of having a stroke by about a quarter—even if you're not at high risk to begin with—and it works just as well for low-risk people as it does for high-risk ones.

76

0

85%

Taking statins to lower your 'bad' cholesterol by a small amount can cut your chance of having a heart attack by nearly half—even if you're not at high risk for heart disease yet.

76

0

84%

Taking statins to lower your 'bad' cholesterol by about 1 point (in mmol/L) can cut your risk of dying from heart problems by 12% and your overall risk of dying by 9%, without raising your risk of dying from other causes like cancer or accidents.

76

0

84%

Taking statins to lower your 'bad' cholesterol by about 1 point (in mmol/L) can cut your chances of having a heart attack by nearly 40%, even if you're not at high risk for heart disease yet.

76

0

83%