When people lower their 'bad' cholesterol to very low levels using strong medications, they have fewer heart attacks and strokes than those with higher cholesterol levels.
Scientific Claim
Very low LDL-cholesterol levels (<40 mg/dL) achieved through intensive lipid-lowering therapies are associated with a 18% lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular events compared to higher LDL-C levels, based on a meta-analysis of 10 randomized trials involving 109,095 patients.
Original Statement
“The rates of major adverse cardiovascular events were significantly lower in the very low LDL-C group: OR 0.82, 0.72–0.94, P = 0.005.”
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
appropriately stated
Study Design Support
Design supports claim
Appropriate Language Strength
association
Can only show association/correlation
Assessment Explanation
The abstract uses 'associated with' implicitly through OR and p-value reporting, and the study design (meta-analysis of RCTs) permits probabilistic inference. However, full trial methodology is not verified, so 'association' is the conservative and appropriate verb strength.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
Safety and efficacy of very low LDL-cholesterol intensive lowering: a meta-analysis and meta-regression of randomized trials.
This study found that people with very low LDL cholesterol (below 40 mg/dL) from strong cholesterol-lowering treatments had 18% fewer heart attacks and strokes than those with higher levels, and they didn’t have more side effects.