Effectiveness of Statin Therapy in Adults With Coronary Heart Disease

Abstract
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death in the United States among men and women, accounting for more than 681 000 deaths in 2000, or 1 of every 5 deaths in the United States.1 A history of CHD increases the relative risk (RR) of subsequent cardiovascular morbidity and mortality by 5 to 7 times. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs)2-6 demonstrate that lowering high levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) reduces cardiovascular events and mortality and is cost-effective.