Statins are better at lowering blood cholesterol concentration than fibrates, but they vary in their ability. In a cross sectional study Hippisley-Cox and colleagues (p 689) compared the effects of lipid lowering drugs and found that atorvastatin and simvastatin excelled. The survey revealed that 57% of the patients taking statins reached the target level of serum cholesterol compared with only 26% of those taking other lipid lowering drugs. The target value for cholesterol may not be realistic since the initial mean values in patients in primary care are higher than those in patients in clinical trials.
SCOTTISH VIEWPOINT