title: The 4S study. Implications for prescribing.
abstract: This article discusses various aspects of cholesterol-lowering therapy using the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor simvastatin in the light of the large Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study (4S). In 4S, patients with proven coronary heart disease (CHD) and plasma total cholesterol > 5.5 mmol/L (212 mg/dl) despite dietary measures received statin therapy or placebo for > or = 5 years. A significant mortality reduction was accomplished in those receiving the statin. Moreover, a significant decrease of nonfatal myocardial infarction and requirement for coronary bypass surgery or angioplasty was demonstrated, which will contribute to the cost-effectiveness of this well tolerated therapy. Plaque stabilisation and improvement of endothelial function are thought to be mediators of this therapeutic success. Responsible drug prescription in the post-4S era may result in the recognition and treatment of more patients with CHD. This is likely to be more beneficial than exhaustive efforts to completely achieve the goals of the most strict guidelines in the individual patient. In patients who carry the highest absolute risk for a recurrent event, aggressive drug therapy may be most justified. Reluctance to initiate lipid lowering drug therapy in patients with proven CHD should now be disputed.
authors.affiliation: Academic Hospital Groningen, Department of Cardiology, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: van Boven
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brügemann
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: de Graeff
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: May
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Crijns
mesh_terms: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D018849:Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004032:Diet; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D008019:Life Style; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019821:Simvastatin
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D002784:Cholesterol; D008148:Lovastatin; D019821:Simvastatin