London, February 10: FDA approves rosuvastatin (Crestor) for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease, making it the first statin recommended to be used in healthy individuals.
Many studies have pointed out the fact that more than half of the patients who experience heart attacks or other cardiovascular problems have normal blood cholesterol levels.
Men aged 50 or older along with women aged 60 or older who have fasting LDL of less than 130 mg/dL, a sensitive C-reactive protein of 2.0 mg/L or greater, triglyceride levels of less than 500 mg/dL, and no prior history of heart attack or stroke, or coronary heart disease risk should take rosuvastatin, FDA stated.
The cholesterol lowering drug has shown promising results in lowering not only the blood LDL levels but also the risk of cardiovascular events and related deaths.
According to the report, muscle pain and diabetes mellitus, the main adverse effects of rosuvastatin, were also reported in those taking other types of statins.
FDA officials concluded that rosuvastatin can be used as a preventative measure for cardiovascular disease even in healthy individuals with no heart symptoms.
—–Agencies