Question:
Does taking Lipitor (atorvastatin) reduce my risk of sudden death over a placebo pill if I have a high risk of having a heart attack in the next ten years?
Answer:
Yes
MedHead Confidence Score: 10
Amount Saved: $12,000 average cost of heart attack
MedHead Message:
Everyone seems to have an opinion on “statins”, the heart medications used to not only lower cholesterol but also definitively lower your risk of dying from a heart attack. This effect is dampened as we age into our 80’s and 90’s. It’s now only $10 per month for some of the statins, and Lipitor is now generic. Please, please, avoid listening to crackpots. If your ten-year heart attack risk is more than 10%, and you have a family history of heart attacks, or you have had previous heart problems, just do it.
References:
1. Comparative benefits of statins in the primary and secondary prevention of major coronary events and all-cause mortality: a network meta-analysis of placebo-controlled and active-comparator trials Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2013 Aug;20(4):641-57. doi: 10.1177/2047487313480435. Epub 2013 Feb 27. 2. Statin Use for the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Adults: Preventive Medication Released November 2016 3. https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/Page/Document/UpdateSummaryFinal/statin-use-in-adults-preventive-medication1 3. A systematic review and economic evaluation of statins for the prevention of coronary eventsHealth Technol Assess. 2007
