What effect do statins have on cardiovascular disease?

Pleomorphic: It reduces the progression of arteriosclerosis, incidence of heart attack, incidence of stroke, and lowers the risk of a needing stent, bypass surgery, or dying.

Cholesterol : Lowering...Particularly LDL which can slow progression of atherosclerosis, reduce heart attack & stroke risk in those with atherosclerosis and some anti inflammatory effects which helps "stabilize" existing plaques.

Beneficial: Statins have helped lower cholesterol as well as silent inflammation in many patients. With patients who have had a heart attach, maintaining LDL levels below 70 for 18 months have shown a reversal of plaque formation. However the statin itself will not prevent a heart attack or stroke. It is the combination of medication with lifestyle improvement that makes true changes.

Reduce: The statins as a class of drugs reduce cholesterol. Depending on the clinical situation, reduction of death, stroke, heart attack by data.