tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732132352927731247.post6656434805878871140..comments2024-03-16T00:27:31.848-07:00Comments on Hooked: Ethics, Medicine, and Pharma: Great Article on Company-Sponsored Statin Comparison TrialsHoward Brodyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00599587504924835039noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1732132352927731247.post-86615290341238578702008-11-10T17:54:00.000-08:002008-11-10T17:54:00.000-08:00This post is well-timed, given last weekend's big ...This post is well-timed, given last weekend's big news blast about statins decreasing heart attacks in asymptomatic patients, including possibly in those without the modern definition of hypercholesterolemia. The alleged mechanism is that statins may affect C-reactive protein, if I recall correctly, even in patients with no pronounced dyslipidemia to be regulated by the statin, thereby reducing cardiovascular incidents resulting from CRP and associated inflammation. <BR/><BR/>Note also that these recent claims about statins come fairly close on the heels of the July 2008 announcement by the American Academy of Pediatrics ofa widespread pediatric screening for dyslipidemia, with treatment recommendations ranging from diet and exercise to statins (or other cholesterol-reducing meds) for children over 8 with high cholesterol. See http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/july08lipidscreening.htm for details.<BR/><BR/>Disease-mongering? Drug-mongering? Or just good preventive medicine?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com