Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study
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The Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study (also known as the 4S study), was a multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, which provided the initial data that supported the use of the cholesterol-lowering drug, simvastatin, in people with a moderately raised cholesterol and coronary heart disease (CHD); that is people who had previously had a heart attack or angina. The study was sponsored by the pharmaceutical company Merck and enrolled 4,444 people from 94 centres in Scandinavia.[1][2]
Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study | |
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![]() Simvastatin 3D | |
Type of project | Multicenter clinical trial |
Country | Scandinavian countries |
Established | 1990s |
Disestablished | 1990s |
Funding | Merck |
Status | Completed |
Before the 4S study, it was not proven that lowering cholesterol could prolong life in people who had CHD.[3] The study concluded that secondary prevention with simvastatin in a high risk group with CHD reduced overall mortality by 30%.[3] Published in The Lancet in 1994, it is considered a "landmark paper".[3][4]