Controlling cholesterol, BP reduces cardiovascular risk by 42 percent

Washington, May 18 : A new study has shown that intensive management of both cholesterol and blood pressure, can significantly reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

A research team, led by John B. Kostis, MD, the John G. Detwiler professor of cardiology, professor of medicine and chair, department of medicine, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, conducted the five-year Treating to New Targets (TNT) study that involved 10,001 patient.

The analysis of the study showed that intensive low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol-lowering in patients with stable coronary heart disease (CHD) whose systolic blood pressure was less than 140 mmHg reduced the risk of major cardiovascular events by 42 percent as compared to less intensive LDL lowering and uncontrolled blood pressure of 140 mmHg or higher.

"People who have both high cholesterol and high blood pressure are at greater risk for cardiovascular disease than those with either condition alone," Dr. Kostis.

"Yet, a minority of patients with both conditions is treated to currently recommended targets. In one study less than a third of such patients were treated and only one in ten were treated to target.

"The analysis reported today reminds us that intensive management of both cholesterol and blood pressure, can significantly reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes," he added.

Among the 10,001 patients, 9,739 who had both LDL cholesterol and systolic blood pressure measured at three months after randomisation, were included in this analysis.

All patients were given cholesterol-lowering therapy with atorvastatin calcium (Lipitor) 80 mg or 10 mg.

More than 95 percent of patients in this analysis also were receiving antihypertensive therapy.

Researchers divided patients into groups based on LDL levels (73 mg/dL and lower; 74 to 94 mg/dL; or 95 mg/dL and higher) and systolic blood pressure (140 mmHg and higher, or lower than 140 mmHg) at three months.

During a median follow-up of 4.9 years, researchers found that patients with the lowest LDL and the lowest BP had the lowest risk of major cardiovascular events.

For each of the three LDL groups, the rate of cardiovascular events was lower in patients whose systolic blood pressure (SBP) was below 140 mmHg.

The benefit of SBP (140 mmHg with respect to stroke was most pronounced in the lowest LDL-C group.

In this analysis Lipitor was well tolerated across all three LDL groups and both systolic BP categories.

"Overall, this study provides new evidence of the importance of controlling both dyslipidemia and hypertension. However, controlling other risk factors, especially smoking, is still essential to reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke," Dr. Kostis said.

The study was published in the May 2008 issue of the Journal of Clinical Hypertension.

ANI