Volume 7, Number 3;  January 10, 2007

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Unique Identifier [PMID]: 17000936

Authors: Hulten E. Jackson JL. Douglas K. George S. Villines TC.

Institution: Department of Internal Medicine, General Internal Medicine, and Cardiology, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA. edward.hulten@us.army.mil

Title: The effect of early, intensive statin therapy on acute coronary syndrome: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. [Review] [44 refs]

Source: Archives of Internal Medicine. 166(17):1814-21, 2006 Sep 25.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: In addition to well-established secondary prevention benefits for atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors (statins) are hypothesized to have short-term benefit in acute coronary syndrome (ACS), yet the data are inconsistent, with some trials underpowered to demonstrate therapeutic benefit. Our objective was to determine the effects of early, intensive statin therapy for ACS. DATA SOURCES: Studies found in the PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, BIOSIS, SciSearch, PASCAL, and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (IPA) databases and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register published between January 1974 and May 2006. STUDY SELECTION: Randomized controlled trials of statins begun within 14 days of hospitalization for ACS were included. DATA EXTRACTION: Two investigators independently abstracted study quality, characteristics, and outcomes. DATA SYNTHESIS: Thirteen randomized controlled trials published before May 2006 were available, involving 17 963 adults (median number of patients, 135; median follow-up, 6 months). Early, intensive statin therapy for ACS decreased the rate of death and cardiovascular events over 2 years of follow-up (hazard ratio, 0.81 [95% confidence interval, 0.77-0.87]) (Q(3) = 58.54; P<.001; I(2) = 95%). Survival curves revealed that this benefit begins to occur between 4 and 12 months, achieving statistical significance by 12 months. There was no evidence of publication bias, and sensitivity analyses did not identify a dominating study or study characteristic. CONCLUSIONS: Early, intensive statin therapy reduces death and cardiovascular events after 4 months of treatment. The validity of this finding would be strengthened by an analysis of individual patient data. [References: 44]

Publication Type: Journal Article. Meta-Analysis. Review.  

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Unique Identifier [PMID]: 16670413

Authors: Briel M. Schwartz GG. Thompson PL. de Lemos JA. Blazing MA. van Es GA. Kayikcioglu M. Arntz HR. den Hartog FR. Veeger NJ. Colivicchi F. Dupuis J. Okazaki S. Wright RS. Bucher HC. Nordmann AJ.

Institution: Basel Institute for Clinical Epidemiology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.

Title: Effects of early treatment with statins on short-term clinical outcomes in acute coronary syndromes: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Source: JAMA. 295(17):2046-56, 2006 May 3.

Abstract: CONTEXT: The short-term effects of early treatment with statins in patients after the onset of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) for the outcomes of death, myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke are unclear. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate relevant outcomes of patients from randomized controlled trials comparing early statin therapy with placebo or usual care at 1 and 4 months following ACS. DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SELECTION: Systematic search of electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, PASCAL, Cochrane Central Register) from their inception to August 2005, which was supplemented by contact with experts in the field. Two reviewers independently determined the eligibility of randomized controlled trials that compared treatment with statins with a control, were initiated within 14 days after onset of ACS, and had a minimal follow-up of 30 days. Trials with cerivastatin were only included in a sensitivity analysis. DATA EXTRACTION: Information on baseline characteristics of included trials and patients, reported methodological quality, lipid levels, and clinical outcome was independently extracted by 2 investigators. Investigators from each included trial contributed additional data if necessary. DATA SYNTHESIS: Twelve trials involving 13 024 patients with ACS were included in the meta-analysis. The risk ratios for the combined end point of death, MI, and stroke for patients treated with early statin therapy compared with control therapy were 0.93 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.80-1.09; P = .39) at 1 month and 0.93 (95% CI, 0.81-1.07; P = .30) at 4 months following ACS. There were no statistically significant risk reductions from statins for total death, total MI, total stroke, cardiovascular death, fatal or nonfatal MI, or revascularization procedures (percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass graft surgery). Sensitivity analyses with restriction to trials of high quality or with additional data from a large trial using cerivastatin indicated summary risk ratios even closer to 1. CONCLUSION: Based on available evidence, initiation of statin therapy within 14 days following onset of ACS does not reduce death, MI, or stroke up to 4 months.

Publication Type: Journal Article. Meta-Analysis. Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't.  

Resident Report / Department of Medicine & Grady Branch Library

Emory University School of Medicine

2006 Edition

Participating Faculty:  Carlos Del Rio MD  / Joyce Doyle MD / Lorenzo Difrancesco MD / Joel Mermis MD / Maunank Shah MD

Contact: Karl Woodworth