A systematic review 1 including 10 studies with a total of 2,299 subjects was abstracted in DARE. Atherosclerosis was assessed with B-mode ultrasound. Statin therapy was associated with a reduction in carotid progression when compared with placebo (8 studies; WMD -22.35, 95% CI: -26.56 to -18.14). There was evidence of statistical heterogeneity (P<0.001). Aggressive statin therapy was associated with a greater reduction in carotid progression when compared with conventional statin therapy (2 studies; WMD -63.26, 95% CI: -71.08 to -55.14). There was evidence of statistical heterogeneity (P=0.053). No statistically significant difference was shown between the control and intervention groups in terms of the number of withdrawals or adverse events.
Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by inconsistency (variability in results across studies).
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