Taking statins to lower bad cholesterol by a specific amount cuts the chance of heart attacks, strokes, and needed heart surgeries by about one-fifth, even in people who have never had heart problems and are considered low risk.
Scientific Claim
Lowering LDL cholesterol by 1.0 mmol/L with statin therapy reduces the risk of major vascular events by 21% in individuals with a 5-year risk of vascular disease below 10%, including those with no prior vascular history, demonstrating that statins provide substantial vascular protection even in low-risk populations.
Original Statement
“Statins reduced the risk of major vascular events by 21% per 1.0 mmol/L LDL cholesterol reduction (RR 0.79, 95% CI 0.77–0.81, p<0.0001), with separately significant proportional reductions in each risk group... In particular, there were significant reductions in major vascular event risk in each of the two lowest risk categories (RR per 1.0 mmol/L LDL cholesterol reduction 0.62, 99% CI 0.47–0.81, for 5-year predicted risk <5%, and 0.69, 99% CI 0.60–0.79, for 5-year predicted risk ≥5% to <10%; both p<0.0001).”
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 study is a systematic review of RCTs with individual participant data, establishing causation. The verb 'reduces' is appropriate given the randomized design and statistical power.
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
Even for people with a very low chance of heart problems, taking statins to lower bad cholesterol by 1 mmol/L cut their risk of heart attacks and strokes by about 20%, and this benefit was just as strong as in high-risk people.