(Reuters) - There is not enough evidence to recommend the widespread use of statins like Pfizer's Lipitor or AstraZeneca's Crestor in people with no previous history of heart disease, scientists said on Wednesday.
In a systematic review published in The Cochrane Library journal, researchers said the cholesterol-lowering drugs -- already among the world's the biggest selling medicines -- should be prescribed "with caution" for those at low risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
In a review of 14 trials involving 34,272 patients, they also found that all but one trial were industry-sponsored, a finding they said meant the overall results could be "limited by unclear, selective and potentially biased reporting."
"This review highlights important shortcomings in our knowledge about the effects of statins in people who have no previous history of CVD. The decision to prescribe statins in this group should not be taken lightly," said lead researcher Fiona Taylor from the Cochrane Heart Group at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Analysis cautions against wider use of statins | Reuters
via uk.reuters.com
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