Dr. Ian Ford and colleagues from the University of Glasgow, report that treatment with cholesterol lowering statin drugs appears to offer heart and cardiovascular protection which persists for years after the actual treatment is stopped.
Published in the New England Journal of Medicine, Dr. Ford's study looked at almost 7,000 men who had elevated LDL (bad cholesterol). About half of the men were treated with pravastatin, and the other half with a placebo. As expected, those taking the pravastatin saw significant decreases in both their LDL and their risk of heart attacks or heart disease. On average, the LDL in those taking the drug fell by about 50 points, and the risk of heart attack decreased by 31%.
In an interesting follow up study, though, the researchers discovered that those who were treated with pravastatin seemed to maintain this lowered risk of heart problems well after the treatment period had ended. A recent survey of study participants - made a full ten years after the initial study - showed that those who had received placebo during the trial currently have about a 15% risk of heart attack, while those who received the pravastatin have about an 11% risk.
The study conclusions suggest that longer term therapy with statin drugs may provide greater benefit than previously realized. The long term data analyzed for the report found no evidence that statins increase the risk of cancer or other non-cardiovascular related diseases.
