Which medication has been proven beneficial for preventing cardiovascular disease events when added to statin therapy?

Ezetimibe has been shown to be beneficial in reducing cardiovascular disease events when used in conjunction with statin therapy. It works by inhibiting the absorption of cholesterol in the intestines, leading to a reduction in overall cholesterol levels and specifically low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Clinical trials, such as the IMPROVE-IT trial, have demonstrated that the addition of ezetimibe to statin therapy significantly lowers the risk of major cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks and strokes, compared to statin therapy alone.

In contrast, while other medications like niacin, fenofibrate, and cholestyramine have historically been used to manage lipid levels, recent studies have not consistently shown a clear benefit in reducing cardiovascular events when added to statin therapy. For instance, niacin, despite its ability to raise high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, has not shown a significant impact on cardiovascular outcomes when combined with statins. Similarly, fenofibrate is beneficial in specific hypertriglyceridemia contexts but lacks robust evidence for overall cardiovascular event reduction in combination with statins. Cholestyramine is a bile acid sequestrant, primarily used for lowering cholesterol, but again, data supporting its use