Primary and secondary prevention of heart failure with statins.

Statins are effective in the prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD), a leading cause of heart failure (HF). Secondary analyses from 11 randomized clinical trials of patients with high-risk acute or stable coronary heart disease, but without HF, suggest that statins may prevent new-onset HF or HF-related hospitalization. In persons with established HF, several cohort studies found an approximate 35% relative risk reduction in all-cause mortality. While ongoing randomized clinical trials will help to determine the efficacy of statins in persons with established HF, it is reasonable to consider this class of medications in patients with a history of cardiovascular disease, dyslipidemia or diabetes mellitus, and who have either developed, or who remain at risk of, HF.