Statins are medicines which reduce blood cholesterol levels. Different medicines, called ACEinhibitors, can reduce blood pressure.Suggest why statins and ACE inhibitors are only given to individuals with high cholesterol orblood pressure........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ [2](c) Scientists wanted to know if taking statins and ACE inhibitors would reduce the risk ofdeveloping CVD in people with average blood pressure. The scientists recorded the bloodpressure and age of every person who took part in the study.(i) Suggest one more piece of information that would be useful to know about the peoplein the study....................................................................................................................................... [1](ii) The people taking part in the study were put in two groups. One group was given aplacebo. The other group was given statins and ACE inhibitors.Explain why it was ethical to use a placebo in this study........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ [2]
Question
Statins are medicines which reduce blood cholesterol levels. Different medicines, called ACEinhibitors, can reduce blood pressure.Suggest why statins and ACE inhibitors are only given to individuals with high cholesterol orblood pressure........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 2 Scientists wanted to know if taking statins and ACE inhibitors would reduce the risk ofdeveloping CVD in people with average blood pressure. The scientists recorded the bloodpressure and age of every person who took part in the study.(i) Suggest one more piece of information that would be useful to know about the peoplein the study....................................................................................................................................... 1 The people taking part in the study were put in two groups. One group was given aplacebo. The other group was given statins and ACE inhibitors.Explain why it was ethical to use a placebo in this study........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ [2]
Solution
(a) Statins and ACE inhibitors are only given to individuals with high cholesterol or blood pressure because these medications are designed to lower these levels. High cholesterol and blood pressure can lead to serious health issues such as heart disease and stroke. Therefore, these medications are prescribed to individuals with these conditions to help manage and reduce their risk. However, for individuals with normal cholesterol and blood pressure levels, these medications may not be necessary and could potentially cause harm or unnecessary side effects.
(b)(i) One additional piece of information that would be useful to know about the people in the study is their lifestyle habits, such as diet and exercise. This information could provide insight into other factors that may influence their blood pressure and cholesterol levels, as well as their overall risk of developing CVD.
(b)(ii) It was ethical to use a placebo in this study because it allows for a fair comparison between the group taking the statins and ACE inhibitors and the group not taking these medications. The placebo group serves as a control group, which is necessary in scientific studies to ensure that any observed effects are due to the treatment itself and not other factors. Additionally, all participants in the study would have been made aware that they could be receiving a placebo, as part of informed consent.
Similar Questions
Statins are widely used to reduce blood cholesterol levels by slowing down the rate of fatty material deposits. A reported side effect of taking statins is that they also reduce blood pressure. A sample of patients with high blood cholesterol was offered statins as treatment. Their blood pressure was taken before treatment started and at weekly intervals.Table 2 shows the percentage of patients with lower blood pressure several weeks after starting treatment. 440 patients took statins and 300 patients took a placebo (not statins).Explain the conclusion that statins reduce blood pressure.
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When dietary and lifestyle interventions are unsuccessful at managing hypertension, medical professionals may prescribe angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors to lower blood pressure. Describe how ACE inhibitors work.(2 marks)
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