title: In-hospital initiation of statin therapy in acute coronary syndromes: maximizing the early and long-term benefits.
abstract: Patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are at high risk for recurrent coronary events, sudden death, and all-cause mortality. Conventional revascularization therapies reduce the risk of further ischemia but do not affect the underlying atherosclerotic disease. Statins have a proven record in the secondary prevention of coronary heart disease. Furthermore, statins have been shown to exert varying degrees of pleiotropic effects, which may stabilize vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques. A compelling body of evidence from randomized controlled trials demonstrates that high-dose, potent statin therapy initiated immediately after an acute coronary event can significantly reduce early as well as longer-term morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, high-dose, potent statin therapy displays a reasonable safety profile. National guidelines now recommend that in patients with ACS, statin therapy should be initiated in hospital prior to discharge, irrespective of baseline low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, to improve clinical outcomes. Every effort should be made to ensure all eligible patients with ACS are initiated and maintained on statin therapy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1679, USA. gfonarow@mednet.ucla.edu
authors.forename: Gregg C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Fonarow
mesh_terms: D000789:Angina, Unstable / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077340:Fluvastatin; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007211:Indoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D017035:Pravastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013577:Syndrome; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D007211:Indoles; D011758:Pyrroles; D000077340:Fluvastatin; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D017035:Pravastatin