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Drug May Cut Heart Attack Risk in Half

'Blockbuster' study could transform preventative care

By Laurel Jorgensen, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 9, 2008 8:06 PM CST

(Newser) – A simple test and drug prescription can prevent hundreds of thousands of heart attacks and strokes, researchers say. Announced today at an American Heart Association meeting in New Orleans, the study of almost 18,000 volunteers in 26 nations confirmed that inflammation leads to heart disease—and can be counteracted by taking a cholesterol-lowering statin, the Washington Post reports.

"It's a breakthrough study," said one expert. "It's a blockbuster. It's absolutely paradigm-shifting." Researchers say middle-aged patients can easily take a $20 inflammation test and be prescribed the statin, which reduces heart attacks and strokes by about 50%. Some experts fear side-effects of the drug, but serious ones did not arise during the 2-year study.

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (2)]

(Shutterstock)

New findings could transform the way doctors approach preventative care for heart disease. (Shutter Stock)

A doctor points out one of the three major coronary arteries using a model of the human heart in this 2002 file photo. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)

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We could prevent a lot of heart attacks, strokes, bypass surgeries, angioplasties and save a lot of lives.
- Dr. Paul Ridker of the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston

This would be a huge expansion of the boundaries of drug therapy. I think we need to be careful before we radically change what we do. Nothing is risk-free.
- Mark A. Hlatky of Stanford University

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Drug May Cut Heart Attack Risk in Half