Statin cuts risk of blood clots

In trials rosuvastatin cut the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in healthy people by 43%.

Forms of VTE include deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism, the most common cause of preventable death in hospital patients.

The study appears in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The latest, long-term study, presented at an American College of Cardiology conference, was based on 17 802 healthy men and women.

Statins have already been shown to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Rosuvastatin, manufactured by AstraZeneca and marketed as Crestor, is just one type of the drug. Other brands were not tested in the current trial.