Lipid lowering: statins and the future.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in developed and many developing countries. Between 1970 and 1992 there has been a slow decline in some areas, notably North America, Western Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. However, CVD mortality has recently increased in Eastern and Central Europe. A whole spectrum of therapeutic tools is available to manage CVD including thrombolytics, antiplatelet drugs, â blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, and statins. By using these drugs singly or in combination, CVD risk can be reduced by as much as 50%.