ASCOT, the Anglo-Scandinavian Cardiac Outcomes Trial, was stopped early because the statin was so effective at preventing heart attacks and strokes, but a new analysis has shown that eight years on the most significant difference between the groups is a reduction in deaths from infection and respiratory illness.
In 2003, the trial was stopped early because the statin proved to be highly beneficial in preventing heart attacks and strokes. Since then, most participants from both groups have been taking statins.
The new analysis looked at the number and cause of deaths among the 4,605 participants in the ASCOT trial who are based in the UK.
After 11 years' follow-up, overall mortality is 14 per cent lower in the group originally assigned atorvastatin, due largely to fewer deaths from infection and respiratory illness.
The difference is largely explained by a 36 per cent reduction in deaths from infection and respiratory illness.
Deaths from cardiovascular disease were also lower in the original statin group, but the difference was not statistically significant. There was no difference in deaths from cancer.
First of all- most statins have not shown any great reduction in mortality. They do lower serum cholesterol, but they do not seem to change the incidence of cardiovascular disease. Sometimes the number of heart attacks goes down, but then the amout of strokes goes up.
This drug has shown remarkably different results. And now we know why. It has some kind of antimicrobial activity.
C. pneumoniae is a major cause of pneumonia. It also causes atherosclerosis.
Any reduction in the amount of cardiovascular disease can most likely be attributed to that, not any effect on serum cholesterol.
Although these results are impressive, I am not sure interfering with the cholesterol pathway is the best method of controlling pathogens. There may be an easier way.
The take away from this study should be: Lower People’s Infectious Burdens.
