Table 2.

Effects of cholesterol lowering in primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in 55 year old men with hypercholesterolaemia^*: prediction by computer program (based on Framingham study^10-12) compared with observed risk reductions in West of Scotland coronary prevention study (WOSCOPS)⁴

End point	Predicted risk reduction (%)						Observed risk reduction (%)
	Absolute risk			Relative risk			Absolute risk	Relative risk (95% CI)
	Non-smoker	Smoker		Non-smoker	Smoker
Coronary heart disease†	2.3	3.3		31	28		2.5 (3.2 for composite end point†)	29 (15 to 40) (31 for composite end point†)
Myocardial infarction‡	1.4	2.7		40	31		2.0	27 (12 to 40)
Death from coronary heart disease	0.5	0.9		46	40		0.6	33 (1 to 55)
Stroke	0	0		0	0		0.16§	11 (−33 to 40)

^*Patients in the treatment arm of WOSCOPS received 40 mg pravastatin daily, which resulted in, on average, 20% reduction in total cholesterol concentration and 5% increase in high density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration. 

^†Defined in Framingham study as myocardial infarction, death from coronary heart disease, angina pectoris, and coronary insufficiency. WOSCOPS reported a combined end point of death from coronary heart disease and non-fatal myocardial infarction. A composite end point from WOSCOPS (event rate shown in brackets) comprising definite non-fatal myocardial infarction and death from coronary heart disease plus revascularisation may be more comparable to the Framingham definition. 

^‡This includes both fatal and non-fatal myocardial infarction for predicted event rates. Observed event rate in WOSCOPS is for non-fatal myocardial infarction. 

^§Calculated from table 2 of WOSCOPS report.⁴