Public health impact of statin prescribing strategies based on JUPITER

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the public health impact of statin prescribing strategies based on the Justification for the Use of Statins in Primary Prevention: an Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin Study (JUPITER).

Methods: We studied 2268 adults aged 35-75 without cardiovascular disease in a population-based study in Switzerland in 2003-2006. We assessed the eligibility for statins according to the Adult Treatment Panel III (ATPIII) guidelines, and by adding "strict" (hs-CRP≥2.0 mg/L and LDL-cholesterol <3.4 mmol/L), and "extended" (hs-CRP≥2.0 mg/L alone) JUPITER-like criteria. We estimated the proportion of CHD deaths potentially prevented over 10 years in the Swiss population.

Results: Fifteen percent were already taking statins, 42% were eligible by ATPIII guidelines, 53% by adding "strict," and 62% by adding "extended" criteria, with a total of 19% newly eligible. The number needed to treat with statins to avoid one CHD death over 10 years was 38 for ATPIII, 84 for "strict" and 92 for "extended" JUPITER-like criteria. ATPIII would prevent 17% of CHD deaths, compared with 20% for ATPIII+"strict" and 23% for ATPIII + "extended" criteria (+6%).

Conclusion: Implementing JUPITER-like strategies would make statin prescribing for primary prevention more common and less efficient than it is with current guidelines.