Featured Post from ChristianaCare

A New Heart Disease Prevention Strategy: Combining Ezetimibe & Statins

Mar 24, 2025

1 min

Kirk Garratt, M.D., MSc

Statement by Kirk Garratt, M.D., Medical Director of ChristianaCare's Center for Heart & Vascular Health


"A new study is challenging the current approach to preventing heart disease by showing that combining ezetimibe (Zetia) with statins could be a highly effective treatment for all high-risk patients, not just those who can’t tolerate higher doses of statins. Ezetimibe works by blocking the absorption of dietary fats before they reach the liver, while statins block the conversion of these fats into bad cholesterol. Clinical studies have already shown that combining moderate doses of statins with ezetimibe works as well as high doses of statins alone.


This new research, which used a sophisticated method to combine results from many studies, demonstrates the potential of using this combination more routinely. The impact could be significant—potentially avoiding thousands of heart attacks and saving many lives each year.

Ezetimibe has minimal side effects and is available in generic form, offering a treatment option with few barriers to widespread use. However, patients should speak with their doctor to discuss whether this combination is right for them."


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Kirk Garratt, M.D., MSc

Kirk Garratt, M.D., MSc

Medical Director of Center for Heart & Vascular Health and John H. Ammon Chair of Cardiology

Dr. Garratt oversees one of the nation's busiest heart programs, renown for its exceptional speed in heart attack response times.

CardiologyCardiovascular DiseaseHeart Health
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