Meta-analyses trials

7 studies from 2010 to 2026. Results: 3 fewer heart events or deaths, 1 lipid or plaque goal met, 3 safety, side effects or genetics. Every summary comes from the trial's PubMed abstract.

All 7 studies

• PCSK9 vs statin monotherapy meta-analysis2026 · PCSK9 inhibitors vs statins · 20,369 people

  In patients who cannot tolerate statins, PCSK9 inhibitor monotherapy lowers LDL-C, ApoB, and raises HDL-C more than high-intensity statin monotherapy, though it is less effective at lowering triglycerides.

  Primary lipid endpoint metMeta-analysesNot applicable

• CTT 2024 diabetes2024 · Statins · 154,664 people

  Statins cause a modest, dose-dependent increase in new-onset diabetes and worsening glycaemia, driven by small upward shifts in glucose/HbA1c, but this risk is already outweighed by the overall cardiovascular benefit of statin therapy.

  Adverse-effect signal (small)Meta-analysesNot applicable

• CTT 2022 muscle2022 · Statins · 154,664 people

  Statins cause a small, mostly mild excess of muscle pain primarily in the first year of treatment, with over 90% of muscle symptom reports in statin users not actually due to the statin, and this risk is far outweighed by cardiovascular benefits.

  Adverse-effect signal (small)Meta-analysesNot applicable

• PCSK9/ezetimibe diabetes meta-analysis2020 · PCSK9 inhibitors, ezetimibe · 72,298 people

  Neither PCSK9 inhibitors nor ezetimibe increase the risk of new-onset diabetes when added to guideline-directed medical therapy.

  No excess riskMeta-analysesNot applicable

• CTT 2019 older people2019 · Statins · 186,854 people

  Statins reduce major vascular events across all age groups including older people, though the evidence for benefit beyond age 75 without pre-existing vascular disease is less direct and being addressed by further trials.

  BenefitMeta-analysesNot applicable

• CTT 2012 low risk2012 · Statins · 174,149 people

  Even in people at low baseline cardiovascular risk, lowering LDL cholesterol with statin therapy reduces major vascular events and all-cause mortality without increasing cancer risk, suggesting current risk-threshold guidelines for statin use may need reconsideration.

  BenefitMeta-analysesNot applicable

• CTT 20102010 · Statins · 170,000 people

  More intensive LDL-lowering with statins produces further, dose-dependent reductions in major vascular events and all-cause mortality, with no evidence of harm from very low LDL levels.

  BenefitMeta-analysesNot applicable

Other medicines

• Statins
• Ezetimibe and bile acid binders
• Bempedoic acid
• PCSK9 inhibitors
• Lp(a) medicines
• CETP inhibitors
• Fibrates, omega-3 and niacin
• APOC3, ANGPTL3 and lomitapide
• Genetics and gene editing

Search and filter all 106 studies in the trial database. Education only, not medical advice.