Cholesterol- Lowering And Statin Drug Combo Could Cut Fatalities By 49%, Saving Thousands Of Lives, Study Finds

Cardiovascular diseases remain the number one cause of death across the world, claiming an estimated 18 million lives every year. Although statins have been the first line of treatment for reducing cholesterol levels for years. They achieve this by suppressing an enzyme in the liver that is used to make cholesterol, thus lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), or 'bad' cholesterol. Statins are not enough for some patients, though, and this is where ezetimibe steps in.According to a study in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings, a combination of two cholesterol-lowering medications—statins and ezetimibe—may save thousands of lives every year by cutting heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular events by half. This study contradicts the traditional practice of prescribing statins alone and recommends the use of combination therapy immediately in high-risk patients.Ezetimibe has a different mode of action than statins as it inhibits the absorption of cholesterol in the gut, complementing the effect of the statins. The new research uncovers that prescribing both drugs concurrently from the start, instead of adding ezetimibe subsequently, yields considerably superior results for high-risk patients with cardiovascular disease.The largest study ever conducted, it pooled data from 14 earlier trials involving 108,353 patients. These patients were at 'very high' risk of developing a heart attack or stroke, or had already developed one. The results strongly support the need to modify treatment strategies in high-risk patients.The study discovered that the patients who underwent the combination therapy had a 19% lower risk of dying from any cause. There was also a 16% decline in cardiovascular death, which pointed to the substantial effect of the therapy on the heart. The study further found that the major adverse cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks and strokes, decreased by 18% and 17%, respectively. These findings reinforce the effectiveness of combining cholesterol-lowering drugs in reducing mortality and preventing life-threatening cardiovascular complications.LDL-C levels dropped significantly more in those receiving the combination treatment, increasing the likelihood of reaching the target level of under 70mg/dL by 85%.Traditionally, statins alone have been prescribed for years, and the physician would later evaluate if extra medicine is required. But based on the findings of the study, physicians ought to prescribe the two drugs at once to those patients who are high-risk patients. This change can save more than 330,000 deaths a year across the globe, including almost 50,000 fatalities in the United States alone, says the study's lead author, Prof. Maciej Banach from Poland's John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin.This study is conclusive that combination cholesterol-lowering therapy must be entertained forthwith and must be the treatment of choice for very high-risk patients following an acute cardiovascular event," said Prof. Peter Toth, one of the authors of the study.The strategy not only has the potential to save lives but may also lead to substantial cost savings for healthcare systems through decreased hospitalization and complications from untreated cardiovascular disease. Prevention of heart failure, recurrent strokes, and other catastrophic events would reduce the economic burden of long-term cardiac care.How Does The Drug Combination Affect Treatment for Cardiovascular Diseases?High levels of LDL-C contributed to 4.5 million deaths in 2020 independently, with most deaths occurring in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. With the prevalent nature of cardiovascular disease worldwide, implementing combination therapy as the mode of treatment might have far-reaching advantages.Since statins and ezetimibe are already on the market in clinical practice, implementation of these findings should be relatively easy. Scientists hope that this evidence will be followed by a revision of medical guidelines, motivating healthcare professionals across the globe to become more proactive.The authors of the study emphasize the need for changing current treatment regimes. Doctors are urged to begin patients on combination therapy immediately, and not to wait and observe whether statins alone can work. Immediate and forceful treatment might be the difference between life and death for thousands of people every year."Our results emphasize the wisdom of the saying 'the lower the better for longer,' but also the not-less-important 'the earlier the better' in the treatment of high-risk cardiovascular patients," Toth said.For individuals, this news is a wake-up call to talk with their healthcare provider about cholesterol control strategies. Knowing the value of combination therapy and fighting for full treatment options could have a major impact on long-term health.The new evidence is a strong argument for the routine application of combination therapy in controlling cholesterol levels for patients at risk. With a solid body of evidence in favor of its application, physicians everywhere are encouraged to implement this treatment to cut the death toll from cardiovascular disease. As guidelines continue to change, the universal use of this practice could be a new dawn for the prevention of heart disease, saving half a million lives each year.

Cholesterol- Lowering And Statin Drug Combo Could Cut Fatalities By 49%, Saving Thousands Of Lives, Study Finds

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