Article Figures & Tables
Figures
Fig. 1: Statin market share (A) and the number of prescriptions dispensed (B) from July 1993 to April 1999 in Canada. The publication dates of the 3 randomized controlled trials and the time of the release of atorvastatin are shown by the vertical bars. The 4S study, which was published in November 1994, demonstrated the benefits of simvastatin in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) for secondary prevention. The WOS study, published in November 1995, reported significant benefits for pravastatin in the primary prevention of coronary disease. The CARE study, published in October 1996, demonstrated the benefits of pravastatin in patients with MI for secondary prevention. Atorvastatin was released in April 1997. The 4S study resulted in an increase in simvastatin use by approximately 4200 prescriptions per month from the expected values in the first 3 months following study release. The corresponding figures for increases in pravastatin use following the release of the WOS and CARE trials were 7000 and 8300 prescriptions per month respectively.