Evidence mapPaperPMID 41864911Full record

SynthesisBMC cardiovascular disorders2026

The role of lipid lowering medications in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease and mortality: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Brooke Morsell, Mohamed Hamed, Shani Scwartz, Ben Martinez, Kevin Roble, Jonathan Kahan, Phillip Habib

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC cardiovascular disorders, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Brooke Morsell *Department of Internal Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA.
Mohamed Hamed *Division of Cardiology, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA.
Shani ScwartzDepartment of Internal Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA.
Ben MartinezDepartment of Internal Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA.
Kevin RobleDivision of Cardiology, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA.
Jonathan KahanDivision of Cardiology, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA.
Phillip HabibDivision of Cardiology, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA. phillipjameshabib@gmail.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

importanceThe mortality benefit of lipid-lowering therapies (LLTs) in true primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains uncertain, in part because prior studies frequently included individuals with existing cardiovascular, vascular, or cerebrovascular disease.

objectiveTo evaluate the effect of LLTs on all-cause mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events exclusively in patients without prior CVD. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and COCHRANE were searched through October 2024 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing LLTs with control therapy. STUDY SELECTION: RCTs assessing LLTs for primary prevention and reporting mortality or cardiovascular outcomes were included; trials with any participants with prior CVD, vascular disease, or cerebrovascular events were excluded.

resultsTen RCTs including 85,829 participants, met criteria. LLTs did not reduce all-cause mortality compared with control (3.9% vs. 3.9%; RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.89–1.07) or cardiac mortality (1.4% vs. 1.5%; RR 0.92, 95% CI 0.82–1.04). However, LLTs—primarily statins—reduced MACE (RR 0.76, 95% CI 0.68–0.84), myocardial infarction (RR 0.64, 95% CI 0.57–0.72), revascularization (RR 0.70, 95% CI 0.57–0.86), stroke/TIA (RR 0.75, 95% CI 0.57–0.98), and cardiovascular hospitalizations (RR 0.75, 95% CI 0.65–0.87).

conclusionAmong individuals without prior cardiovascular, vascular, or cerebrovascular disease, LLTs did not reduce all-cause or cardiovascular mortality but were associated with significant reductions in nonfatal cardiovascular events. Additional research is needed to define the benefits of LLTs in true primary prevention.

Indexed as

Cardiovascular DiseasesDyslipidemiasHypolipidemic AgentsLipidsPrimary PreventionAgedBiomarkersCause of DeathFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedProtective FactorsRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicRisk AssessmentTime FactorsBiomarkersHypolipidemic AgentsLipidsCardiovascular diseaseLipid therapyMortalityPrimary preventionStatins

Identifiers

PMID41864911
PMCPMC13130671

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.