What do these studies really tell us...get a statistician to validate what I'm about to say.
But here is what the drug company studies may be doing. The control group may be experiencing something like 2 out of 100 persons suffering a stroke or heart attack (98 don't)...those taking the stain may suffer stroke or heart attack in just 1 out of 100 (99).
1 vs 2 persons with heart disease - that shows a 50% reduction! Hooray for the drug companies!
But are you really better off if you are in the group of 99/100 who don't suffer a heart attack or stroke while on statins, compared to the control group of 98/100 who also don't suffer a heart attack or stroke while NOT TAKING statins.
I was prescribed Lipitor and have come to believe the long-term side effects are not well known and I doubt the relevance of drug company studies.
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MM of VA 4:24PM July 22, 2010