Every year, over 100,000 people in the UK suffer a heart attack – many of them are at risk of experiencing another within the first year.
That’s why patients are typically prescribed statins, which lower dangerous LDL cholesterol and reduce the risk of another attack.
But new research suggests that what we’ve long considered standard care might not be enough.
A combination that could save thousands
A large-scale study from Sweden analyzed data from over 36,000 patients, and the results are clear:
When patients were given the drug ezetimibe in addition to statins within 12 weeks of their first heart attack, the risk of new cardiovascular events and death was significantly reduced.
Compared to those who received ezetimibe later – or not at all – the improvement was substantial.
According to researchers, 133 heart attacks could be prevented per 10,000 patients over three years if the treatment is initiated early.
That equates to a potential 5,000 heart attacks avoided in the UK over ten years.
Cheap, available – but ignored
Both statins and ezetimibe are inexpensive and already approved for use. Yet it’s rare for the two to be prescribed together right after a heart attack.
Researchers say this is partly due to current medical guidelines not recommending combination therapy as standard, and a cautious approach from doctors wary of side effects and overmedication.
But ezetimibe has relatively few side effects and is widely available in many countries.
The researchers behind the study are urging health authorities to change treatment guidelines and ensure that more patients can benefit from this potentially life-saving combination.
This article is based on information from The Sun.