However, evidence supporting this assumption has been limited, and prescribing practice suggest that some statins are preferred over others. Zhou and colleagues compared the effectiveness of 5 commonly prescribed statins in a head-to-head retrospective analysis of data 18 000 elderly patients who had AMI and who filled a prescription for a statin within 90 days after discharge. They found that the 5 statins were equally effective for secondary prevention after AMI.

However, the costs of statins differ, as Wright points out in a related commentary, which gives physicians an opportunity to reduce costs to patients and the health care system while still achieving optimal health outcomes for their patients.

'"/>

Contact: Dr. Louise Pilote
louise.pilote@mcgill.ca
Canadian Medical Association Journal
25-Apr-2005