METAANALYSIS OF THERAPEUTIC TRIALS OF PRIMARY PREVENTION OF ISCHEMIC-HEART-DISEASE WITH LIPID LOWERING DRUGS

The prevention of lipid-related coronary risk by lipid lowering drugs or diet has been the object of several therapeutic trials. This meta-analysis comprises the 6 available primary prevention trials (representing 30 695 subjects). There was an overall reduction of non-lethal infarcts (- 26%) and coronary events (- 18%) in the treatment groups. There was a tendency to less coronary deaths (- 10%), though not statistically significant, and no difference in mortality due to all causes was observed. Some questions remain unanswered about the fact that the reduced incidence of ischaemic heart disease did not affect global mortality. This fact could be explained by an inadequate duration of treatment or follow-up, to an effect limited to chronic infarction or to eventual unidentified adverse effects (the meta-analysis does not show any significant differences in mortality due to cancer or accidental death).