Role Of HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors In Patients With Coronary Heart Disease

Background Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the most common cause of premature death in the world. Its cause is unknown but the number of risk factor has been identified including cigarette smoking, hypertension, diabetes and hypercholesterolemia correction of which may protect against the progression or development of the disease. It is characterized by the atheromatous plaque which may stenose the coronary arterial lumen sufficiently and cause acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Previous trails have demonstrated that lipid lowering with 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors (statins) reduces the risk of cardiovascular events in patient with CHD. There are still conflicting and controversial reports about the effects of statins in CHD. We prospectively assessed the efficacy and safety of statins in patients with CHD.Methods A total of 33 patients with clinically evident CHD were taken in this study. They had 2 or more major risk factors and LDL cholesterol levels ≥ 2.6 mmol /L. Patients were either admitted in the hospital or attending the out patient department during the study period. Patients undertaken in this study were from February to May 2005. They were aged 65±5.4 years. Among the patients 25 were male (75%) and 8 were female (25%). The diagnosis was unstable angina 12 (36%); old MI with unstable angina 18(55%) and post percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) having unstable angina 3...