TOPLINE:
Early introduction of atorvastatin vs placebo in patients with hypertension demonstrated significant benefits in reducing cardiovascular disease events, such as non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI) and coronary heart disease (CHD) events, over a 20-year follow-up period.
METHODOLOGY:
- Researchers analysed data from the ASCOT lipid-lowering arm study and included 4605 UK participants with hypertension, at least three additional risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and a total cholesterol level < 6.5 mmol/L.
- Matched patients were randomly assigned to receive either 10 mg atorvastatin (n = 2317; mean age, 64.5 years; 87% men) or placebo (n = 2288; mean age, 64.5 years; 87.6% men).
- Patients had no history of CHD events, transient ischaemic attack, stroke, or treated angina within 3 months before randomisation.
- The primary…