Cholesterol lowering therapy after myocardial infarction. Consequences of the CARE study
Otterstad, J.E.; Hexeberg, E.; Holme, I.; Hjermann, I.
Tidsskrift for den Norske Laegeforening Tidsskrift for Praktisk Medicin Ny Raekke 117(16): 2341-2344
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0029-2001 PMID: 9265282 Document Number: 481397
In the recently published CARE-study, 4,159 patients aged 21-75 years were included and randomised to treatment with pravastatin 40 mg once daily or placebo 3-20 months following a myocardial infarction. Inclusion criteria were a total cholesterol < 6.2 mmol/l and LDL-cholesterol 3.0-4.5 mmol/l. Mean follow-up time was five years. Average reduction of total cholesterol was 20% and of LDL-cholesterol 28% in the treatment group. The incidence of coronary death or non-fatal myocardial infarction was reduced by 24% (p = 0.003). The cholesterol levels in the CARE-study were similar to those in most western populations and lower than in the 4S study. This must be considered when evaluating the different results of the treatment in the two studies. It seems fair not only to offer statin treatment to patients complying with the 4S inclusion criteria, but also to patients with values as in the CARE population.