Study: CRP May Not Show Need for Statin

A test for a blood protein may not help predict who needs to take statin drugs, a new study suggests. The test looks for C-reactive protein (CRP) in the blood. High levels of CRP indicate more inflammation in the body. Statin drugs lower LDL cholesterol and inflammation. Some people with normal LDL end up having heart attacks and strokes. Earlier research suggests that a CRP test could show which ones have the highest risk. The study included 20,536 adults. All of them were at high risk of having a heart attack or stroke. They were randomly assigned to receive a statin or placebo pills. After 5 years, people who took the statin were 24% less likely to die or have a heart attack, stroke or procedure than those who got the placebo. Risk was lower for those who took the statin regardless of whether they had low or high CRP or LDL cholesterol.