The effect of statins on average survival in randomised trials, an analysis of end point postponement

Abstract

Objective To estimate the average postponement of death in statin trials.

Setting A systematic literature review of all statin trials that presented all-cause survival curves for treated and untreated.

Intervention Statin treatment compared to placebo.

Primary outcome measures The average postponement of death as represented by the area between the survival curves.

Results 6 studies for primary prevention and 5 for secondary prevention with a follow-up between 2.0 and 6.1 years were identified. Death was postponed between −5 and 19 days in primary prevention trials and between −10 and 27 days in secondary prevention trials. The median postponement of death for primary and secondary prevention trials were 3.2 and 4.1 days, respectively.

Conclusions Statin treatment results in a surprisingly small average gain in overall survival within the trials’ running time. For patients whose life expectancy is limited or who have adverse effects of treatment, withholding statin therapy should be considered.

http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/5/9/e007118

Well fuck me gently with a chainsaw, now they are coming off patent and being replaced by PCSK9s they start telling the truth about statins.

Be VEWY VEWY quiet about the fact PCSK9s don't appear to prolong or improve life expectancy either.

chris c wrote:Well fuck me gently with a chainsaw, now they are coming off patent and being replaced by PCSK9s they start telling the truth about statins.

Be VEWY VEWY quiet about the fact PCSK9s don't appear to prolong or improve life expectancy either.

Yes very limited data available on the efficiency of PCSK9s given time expect the same eventual conclusions as statins though no doubt pharma will be funding studies extolling the virtues

Meanwhile even "Mediterranean" diets (whateverthehell they are) blow these results into the weeds. Let alone what is routinely achieved by low carb/ketosis.

chris c wrote:Meanwhile even "Mediterranean" diets (whateverthehell they are) blow these results into the weeds. Let alone what is routinely achieved by low carb/ketosis.

The Mediterranean diet according to the NHS is similar to the eatwell diet 

The diet is similar to the government's healthy eating advice set out in the Eatwell Guide, which shows the foods needed for a balanced, healthy diet.

http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/Pages/what-is-a-Mediterranean-diet.aspx

More nutribollocks.

Michel de Lorgeril's study actually replaced industrially produced Omega 6 oils with industrially produced Omega 3 oils, which was enough to make some significant changes in outcomes. This passed the NHS by completely, as did what they ACTUALLY eat around the Med.

There were a couple of admittedly small but convincing studies by the late Staffan Lindeberg where a pseudo-Paleo diet blew away a pseudo-Mediterranean diet, one in diabetics, one in obese people. Basically the NHS is just pushing a high carb low fat Omega 6 rich veg(etari)an diet, just like Coke and PETA require.