Monday, August 31, 2009

Combo Lipid Lowering Pills No Better Than Statin Monotherapy: New Meta-Data Study of Outcomes Shows


Of 102 studies reviewed, in a new meta-analysis, only two very limited studies found a significant benefit from combination therapy, as compared to statin therapy alone. Quoth MedPage Today, just now:

. . . .Two trials among the 102 included in the review found that patients prescribed a combination of statin and ezetimibe were better able to lower their blood levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) compared with patients prescribed statins alone (odds ratio 7.21, 95% CI 4.30 to 12.08), according to a report in the September Annals of Internal Medicine.

The studies also suggested that that statin-ezetimibe and statin-fibrate combinations did not reduce mortality rates any more than high-dose statin monotherapy in high-risk patients. . . .

They found no difference in outcomes between statins alone and combination therapy for mortality, myocardial infarction, stroke, and revascularization procedures. . . .

My reaction?

Just. Stick. A. Fork. In. Vytorin. It's. Done.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Combo's may not be better but side effects are. Less muscle ache and liver effects is an advantage.

Condor said...

Hey at 1:43 am… you’re okay?