NEW YORK (Reuters Health) — People with diabetes who have suffered a heart attack or episode of severe angina — collectively known as “acute coronary syndrome” (ACS) — benefit just as much from treatment with a so-called statin drug as those without diabetes, according to an analysis of data from a large statin treatment trial.The overall results of the trial, published previously, showed a drop in cardiovascular complications for all ACS patients treated with intensive, rather than standard, statin therapy. Examples of statin drugs include Pravachol, Lipitor, Zocor or Crestor.

The current subgroup analysis centred on 978 subjects with diabetes and 3,184 without diabetes who were randomised to receive intensive statin therapy with Zocor, 80 milligrams daily, or standard statin therapy with 40 mg of Pravachol per day. The average follow-up period was 24 months.