A powerful combination of two cholesterol-lowering drugs has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular diseases. According to a new study published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings, using statins alongside ezetimibe reduces ‘bad’ cholesterol levels by 19% and deaths by 16%. This approach could prevent over 330,000 deaths annually among patients who have already suffered a heart attack.
The study analyzed data from over 108,000 high-risk patients and found that the combination therapy was more effective than statins alone in lowering LDL-C levels. Researchers believe this approach could be implemented immediately to reduce cardiovascular disease-related deaths and save healthcare systems money.
Experts recommend starting both treatments early and together for patients at the highest risk of cardiovascular conditions. This proactive approach aligns with the importance of treating high-risk patients “the earlier the better” and avoiding further medical complications and deaths.
The study’s findings have significant implications, given that 18 million people die from cardiovascular disease annually worldwide, with high LDL-C levels responsible for 4.5 million deaths in 2020.
Source: https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/cholesterol-lowering-drugs-could-save-thousands-of-lives