Closing
Do statins improve lipids versus placebo?
Mostly studied in dyslipidaemia. Also asked against other treatments.
Not modeled yetTrial evidence exists, but no mechanistic model yetWithout a model there is no decisive experiment to propose. Help build it. →
Where the evidence stands
A coin flip. So far, the results disagree.
NoUnsureYes
- Belief
- 0.50 (range 0.00–0.55)
- Trials for
- 21
- Trials against
- 7
- Inconclusive
- 5
Already under way
- Prospective RandomizEd Evaluation and Management of Premature aTherosclerosisNCT07232069 · recruiting · started 2026
- A Registry-based Randomized Controlled Trial of Moderate-intensity Statin Therapy vs. Individualized Low-density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Target-based Therapy…NCT07359105 · recruiting · started 2026
- OPtimal Medical Strategy for Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome Treated With Drug-eluting Stents: Enhancing Outcomes With antiPlatelet and Lipid-lowering…NCT07432516 · not yet recruiting · started 2026
- Vascular Intervention Strategies Trial for Alzheimer's (VISTA)NCT07447206 · not yet recruiting · started 2026
- Effects of Bempedoic Acid/Ezetimibe/High-intensity Statin on Plaque Regression and Stabilisation of Coronary Atherosclerosis Among Patients Without…NCT07474649 · not yet recruiting · started 2026
The evidence so far
- Registered trials
- 516
- With posted results
- 107
- Published papers
- 127
Of 169 decided analyses: 96 favor statins, 42 find no difference, 31 favor the comparator.
Papers
- Comparative effects of cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibition, statin or ezetimibe on lipid factors: The ACCENTUATE trial.Trial report · 2017
- Reduction in C-reactive protein and LDL cholesterol and cardiovascular event rates after initiation of rosuvastatin: a prospective study of the JUPITER trial.Trial report · 2009
- Impact of a pharmaceutical care program in a community pharmacy on patients with dyslipidemia.Trial report · 2005
- Effect of statins alone versus statins plus ezetimibe on carotid atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetes: the SANDS (Stop Atherosclerosis in Native Diabetics Study) trial.Trial report · 2008
- The effect of a locally adapted, secondary stroke risk factor self-management program on medication adherence among veterans with stroke/TIA.Trial report · 2016
- Rosuvastatin in older patients with systolic heart failure.Trial report · 2007
Trials
- A Study to Investigate the Safety, Tolerability, Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Administering Multiple Oral Doses of GSK1292263 Alone and With AtorvastatinNCT01218204 · 80 posted results
- A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Parallel Group, 12 Week Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of MK0524B Versus Atorvastatin in Patients With Mixed HyperlipidemiaNCT00289900 · 40 posted results
- A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Multicenter Parallel Group Phase 3 Study Measuring the Effect of Rosuvastatin 20 mg on Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Chinese SubjectsNCT02546323 · 15 posted results
- A Phase III, Randomized, Double-blind, Clinical Trial to Study the Efficacy and Safety of MK-0431D (a Fixed-dose Combination [FDC] of Sitagliptin and Simvastatin) for the Treatment of Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) With Inadequate Glycemic Control on Metformin MonotherapyNCT01678820 · 14 posted results
- A Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo and Ezetimibe Controlled, Multicenter Study to Evaluate Safety, Tolerability and Efficacy of AMG 145 on LDL-C in Combination With Statin Therapy in Subjects With Primary Hypercholesterolemia and Mixed DyslipidemiaNCT01763866 · 309 posted results
- A Randomized, Double Blind, Parallel, Multi-center, Phase 3 Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of DW1125 and DW1125A in Patient With Primary Hypercholesterolemia or Mixed DyslipidemiaNCT05970679 · 2 posted results
- A Randomized, Placebo Controlled Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Effects of Simvastatin Treatment on Measurements of Lipidomic Biomarkers in Men With DyslipidemiaNCT00935259 · 15 posted results
- Estudio clínico Fase III Para Evaluar la Eficacia terapéutica en Pacientes Mexicanos Con Dislipidemia Mediante el Uso vía Oral de L-Carnitina + Atorvastatina Comparado Con AtorvastatinaNCT03696940