Yes Virginia, LDL really does matter

Numerous authors over the last several years, citing the pleiotropic effects of statins, have refused to believe that LDL reduction is important. This is despite several lines of evidence, as I have pointed out in numerous previous posts [1] [2] [3].

Now comes this systematic review and meta-analysis from JAMA. From the article:

Conclusions and Relevance In this meta-regression analysis, the use of statin and nonstatin therapies that act via upregulation of LDL receptor expression to reduce LDL-C were associated with similar RRs of major vascular events per change in LDL-C. Lower achieved LDL-C levels were associated with lower rates of major coronary events.

Multiple means of LDL reduction appear to reduce events to a similar degree.