For every 1,000 low-risk people who take statins to lower their bad cholesterol by 1 mmol/L, about 11 will avoid a heart attack, stroke, or heart surgery over five years — a benefit much bigger than the small risks of side effects.
Scientific Claim
For individuals with a 5-year risk of major vascular events below 10%, each 1.0 mmol/L reduction in LDL cholesterol with statin therapy results in an absolute reduction of approximately 11 major vascular events per 1,000 people over 5 years, indicating a clinically meaningful benefit that outweighs known statin risks.
Original Statement
“In individuals with 5-year risk of major vascular events lower than 10%, each 1 mmol/L reduction in LDL cholesterol produced an absolute reduction in major vascular events of about 11 per 1000 over 5 years. This benefit greatly exceeds any known hazards of statin therapy.”
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
appropriately stated
Study Design Support
Design supports claim
Appropriate Language Strength
definitive
Can make definitive causal claims
Assessment Explanation
The absolute risk reduction is derived from individual participant data and validated through weighted meta-analysis. The claim accurately reflects the study’s calculation and is appropriately stated.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
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
This big study found that even for people at low risk of heart attacks or strokes, taking statins to lower cholesterol by 1 mmol/L prevents about 11 serious heart or blood vessel problems per 1,000 people over 5 years—and doesn’t cause more cancer or other harm.