Have them ask their doctor about the NNT of statins (number needed to treat). Statins reduce cholesterol, and boy do they do a good job. But what are the outcom

Have them ask their doctor about the NNT of statins (number needed to treat). Statins reduce cholesterol, and boy do they do a good job. But what are the outcomes? Despite the hypothesis, Lowered cholesterol does not really reduce your chances for a heart attack (NNT 217) or stroke (NNT > 300). Which means 217 have to take the drug for 3 years for 1 person to avoid a non fatal heart attack! Most of those statin studies were done on men. There is growing evidence for women but for decades it was almost non existent. One of the problems with the Pharmaceutical industry is how long term effects/safety data are never available until decades later, after the industry has heavily pushed the drug On doctors and patients and made a ton of money. I’m not saying it is necessarily nefarious, just that the incentives are misaligned for positive patient outcomes. All patients should be aware of that.