Do stAtins faVourably modify atherosclerotIc plaque in patients with differeNt levels of polygenic Cardiovascular (CV) rIsk?

This study investigates whether statin medications — widely used to lower cholesterol — can reduce the build-up of plaque in the coronary arteries of the heart, and whether this effect differs based on a person's genetic risk for heart disease. Coronary atherosclerosis (plaque in the arteries) is the main cause of heart attacks. Statins are one of the most-prescribed drugs in the world, but their effects on plaque composition and burden can vary between individuals. Using CT coronary angiography (a specialised X-ray scan of the heart's arteries), the study will measure plaque size and type before and after 12 months of statin treatment, comparing results between people with different genetic risk scores. Participants are randomly assigned to receive either a statin or a placebo in a double-blind design — neither they nor their doctors will know which they receive until the study ends. You may be eligible if you are 18 or older, have established coronary atherosclerosis on a clinically ordered CT scan (with mild narrowing of a major artery), have an LDL cholesterol above 1.8 mmol/L, and currently have no requirement for cholesterol-lowering therapy. Pregnant or breastfeeding women, people with liver or gallbladder disease, BMI over 40, or significant kidney impairment are not eligible.