Sources of Heterogeneity in the Efficacy of Statins for Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases: A Systematic Review with Meta-Regression and Meta-Analysis of Within-Study Subgroup Differences.
Yujun Long, Jianzhao Liu, Jiaxin Cai et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy of statins for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in 102,667 adults without prior CVD. Statin treatment significantly reduced the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) by 27% (RR, 0.73) compared to no treatment. The study identified trial-level factors contributing to heterogeneity in efficacy, particularly baseline lipid levels and statin intensity.
Key findings
- Statin treatment reduced the risk of MACE by 27% (RR, 0.73, 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.80).
- Myocardial infarction risk was reduced by 32% (RR, 0.68, 95% CI, 0.60 to 0.77).
- Stroke risk decreased by 24% (RR, 0.76, 95% CI, 0.65 to 0.89).
- Higher baseline triglycerides were associated with reduced efficacy for stroke prevention (RRR, 1.81, 95% CI, 1.17 to 2.81).
Why it matters
Understanding the factors that influence statin efficacy can help clinicians tailor treatment strategies for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease, potentially improving patient outcomes by identifying those who may benefit most from therapy.