Table 1.

Characteristics of the eight included studies

Study	Target population	Dates of recruitment	Mean follow-up (years)	Statin	Number of participants	Proportion of women (%)	Mean age (range, years)	Diabetes (%)	History of CVD (%)	Duration of post-trial follow-up	Difference in proportion taking statins post-trial (%)
Primary prevention/primary care population
ALLHAT-LLT	Treated for high BP with high cholesterol	1994–1998	4.8	Pravastatin 40 mg	10 355	49	66 (55-NA)	35	11	4	NA
ASCOT-LLA	High BP and no history of CHD, with 3+ other CVD risk factors	1998–2000	3.2	Atorvostatin 10 mg	10 305	19	63 (40–79)	25	14	8.3	4
WOS-COPS	Men with high cholesterol and no history of myocardial infarction	1989–1991	4.8	Pravastatin 40 mg	6595	0	55 (45–64)	1	8	15.1	4
Secondary prevention/clinical population
ALERT	Renal or combined renal and pancreas transplant recipients at high risk of CVD	1996–1997	5.1	Fluvastatin 40 mg	2102	34	50 (30–75)	19	19	1.6	0
SSSS	History of angina or myocardial infarction	1988–1989	5.2	Simvastatin 20–40 mg	4444	19	60+ (35-70)	5	100	5	4
PROSPER	≥70 years with history of CVD or at high risk of CVD	1997–1999	3.2	Pravastatin 40 mg	5804	52	75 (70–82)	11	44	5.4	NA
HPS	Coronary disease, other occlusive arterial disease, diabetes or treated for high BP	1994–1997	5.0	Simvastatin 40 mg	20 536	25	64 (40–80)	29	85	5.7	0
LIPID	Myocardial infarction or hospitalisation for unstable angina	1990–1992	5.6	Pravastatin 40 mg	9014	17	62 (31–75)	9	>99	10	1

Order of trials within primary prevention and secondary prevention order is from shortest post-trial follow-up to longest.

BP, blood pressure; CVD, cardiovascular disease; NA, not available.