Statins cut heart deaths in men by 28%, study finds

Source: NHS Choices – Behind the Headlines

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Date of publication: September 2017

Publication type: News item

In a nutshell: “Statins cut the risk of dying from heart disease by 28% among men, according to the longest study of its kind,” The Guardian reports.

Statins help reduce the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or “bad cholesterol”, in the blood. This in turn helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Current UK guidelines recommend that people with a 1 in 10 chance of developing CVD at some point in the next 10 years should be offered statins.

The results of this new analysis led the researchers to conclude that more people with high cholesterol should be offered statins.

Length of publication: 1 webpage

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Acknowledgement: NHS Choices – Behind the Headlines

More older adults ‘may benefit from taking statins,’ study reports

Source: NHS Choices – Behind the Headlines

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Date of publication: July 2017

Publication type: News item

In a nutshell: “Nearly all men over 60 and women over 75 eligible for statins, analysis suggests,” The Guardian reports.

This is the finding of a study that aimed to see how many people in England would qualify for statin use if the 2014 NICE guidelines for statin therapy in adults were followed.

Length of publication: 1 webpage

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Acknowledgement: NHS Choices – Behind the Headlines

Closing the gap: tackling cardiovascular disease and health inequalities

Source: Care Quality Commission

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Date of publication: September, 2009

Publication type: Report

In a nutshell: This report calls for a renewed drive to reduce the number of people with cardiovascular disease (CVD) by prescribing statins, promoting stop smoking services and cholesterol management. Poorer areas of the country in particular should be targeted for these improvements. The national study found that health inequalities still exist between people in the most deprived areas compared with those in other parts of the country, of which CVD is the biggest cause.

Length of publication: 44 pages

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.