LIPID study

Last reviewed 01/2018

The Long-term Intervention with Pravastatin in Ischaemic Disease (LIPID) study was a double-blind randomised placebo controlled study of the effect of pravastatin in patients with a history of myocardial infarction or unstable angina who had a broad range of cholesterol levels.

Patients randomised to pravastatin showed a 20-30% relative risk reduction for a range of cardiovascular including:

  • overall mortality
  • myocardial infarction
  • stroke

This study suggests that any patient with a previous diagnosis of unstable angina or myocardial infarction should receive a statin.

For every 1000 patients treated for 6.1 years the following end-points were avoided:

  • 30 deaths
  • 28 non-fatal myocardial infarctions
  • 9 non-fatal strokes
  • 23 coronary bypass operations
  • 20 coronary angioplasties
  • 82 hospital admissions for unstable angina

Reference:

  • (1) LIPID study group. (1998) Prevention of cardiovascular events and death with pravastatin in patients with coronary heart disease and a broad range of initial cholesterol levels. New Engl. J. Med. 339, 1349-57