Cholesterol lowering and mortality: time for a new paradigm?
Sudden cardiac death is the main cause of cardiac mortality. Is blood cholesterol a determinant of sudden cardiac death? Does cholesterol lowering result in fewer sudden cardiac deaths? Answering these two questions may shed new light on the epidemiology of coronary heart disease and on prevention options. In fact, careful analysis of the available data, including randomised trials, indicates that, contrary to a widespread opinion, cholesterol lowering does not appear to be a very effective way of reducing cardiac and overall mortality in the general population.
de Lorgeril
Michel
M
Laboratoire Nutrition, Vieillissement et Maladies Cardiovasculaires, Faculté de Médecine, Domaine de la Merci, 38056 La Tronche, Grenoble, France. michel.delorgeril@ujf-grenoble.fr
Salen
Patricia
P
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000401:mortality*; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012307:Risk Factors
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D002784:Cholesterol