Both studies focus on a specific aspect of the recommendations for cholesterol screening: the formula that predicts a person’s risk of a cardiovascular event taking into account risk factors such as age, blood pressure and cholesterol level.
These recommendations were created to better control cholesterol but some experts have criticized them saying they are exaggerated and could encourage treatment with drugs. statins people who don’t need it to lower cholesterol.
However, one of the published studies showed that in reality the new guidelines would be successful in preventing 40,000 to 60,000 additional cardiovascular events each year.
Study author Dr Udo Hoffmann, professor of radiology at Harvard Medical School, explained that “statins are among the most effective drugs, and it’s reassuring that the new guidelines really work. “
The other study published this week proved that the formula proposed by the new guidelines was cost-effective. The researchers compared the cost of prescribing statins with their health benefits to see if it was worth it financially. They concluded that in fact the lives saved were worth the extra cost.
Drs Philip Greenland and Michael S. Lauer wrote in an article published with the two studies that “it is no longer a question of whether or not to provide statins for the prevention of patients. at risk, and there should be fewer questions now about who to treat and how to treat. “
But these findings are not enough to convince opponents of the new screening measures for cholesterol.
Dr. Steven Nissen, chief of cardiovascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic told CNN that “in fact, a lot of doctors believe these new guidelines are irrational. “
One of the study’s authors, Dr. Thomas Gaziano, told CNN that he always encourages his patients to change their lifestyle, including exercise and diet, before choosing statins. He adds, “But patients can take statins if they want to lower their risk even further. “
