Tough Questions About the Value of Statin Therapy for Primary Prevention: Did JUPITER Miss the Moon?

摘要

An unusually rancorous debate that was recently described by the president of the American Heart Association as "a statistical tug-of-war" has raised more questions than answers about the risks and benefits of statins in primary prevention. Spending money to save money seemed like a reasonable strategy in lowering serum lipids in primary prevention of adverse cardiovascular outcomes, particularly when pravastatin and simvastatin became available by generic name in April and June 2006, respectively, soon thereafter permitting the treatment of several patients for the same drug cost as treating 1 patient with either brand pravastatin (Pravachol) or brand simvastatin (Zocor).