Interpretation
In the randomised, placebo-controlled JUPITER trial of rosuvastatin 20 mg, done in the setting of primary prevention, we noted that the small risk of developing diabetes on statin therapy was limited to participants who had biochemical evidence of impaired fasting glucose or multiple components of metabolic syndrome—groups already at high risk of developing diabetes. Further, both in participants with and without diabetes risk factors, the absolute benefit of statin therapy on vascular events was greater than the hazard of developing new onset diabetes. These data should provide reassurance for patients and physicians about the use of lipid lowering as an adjunct to diet, exercise, and smoking cessation in the primary prevention of myocardial infarction, stroke, and cardiovascular death.