26/09/2025
💊 Statins: Why they matter in heart disease prevention
Statins are among the most studied and prescribed medications worldwide. Their main job is simple: lower “bad” cholesterol (LDL-C). But the benefits go far beyond just numbers on a blood test.
🔹 Secondary prevention (patients who already had a heart attack, stroke, or vascular disease):
Statins reduce the risk of another heart attack, stroke, and even death. They are standard of care because they clearly save lives.
🔹 Primary prevention (patients at high risk but without previous events):
In people with risk factors (high cholesterol, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, strong family history), statins significantly lower the chance of the first heart attack or stroke.
📊 Large meta-analyses (such as from the Cholesterol Treatment Trialists’ Collaboration) have shown:
Every 1 mmol/L (≈40 mg/dL) reduction in LDL cholesterol reduces major cardiovascular events by about 20–25%.
This benefit applies in both primary and secondary prevention, across men, women, and different age groups.
⚖️ Like every medication, statins can have side effects (e.g. muscle aches in a small proportion of patients), but overall the benefits in reducing heart attacks and strokes far outweigh the risks for those with elevated risk.
👉 In short: Statins save lives, both for those who already have heart disease and for those at high risk of developing it.
📖 Reference:
Lancet – Cholesterol Treatment Trialists’ (CTT) Collaboration (https://www.thelancet.com/article/S0140-6736(12)60367-5/fulltext)
❗Important: The content of this post is intended as general information, not as medical advice. For any health-related concerns, always consult your own doctor.
