A Cochrane review included 50 studies with a total of 45 285 subjects. In people with chronic kidney disease not requiring dialysis, statins consistently decreased major cardiovascular events (RR 0.72, 95% CI 0.66 to 0.79; 13 studies, n=36 033), all-cause mortality (RR 0.79, 95% CI 0.69 to 0.91; 10 studies, n=28 276) and cardiovascular deaths (RR 0.77, 95% CI 0.69 to 0.87; 7 studies, n=19 059), and MI (RR 0.55, 95% CI 0.42 to 0.72; 8 studies, n=9 018). Statins had uncertain effects on stroke (RR 0.62, 95% CI 0.35 to 1.12; 5 studies, n=8 658).There was no significant improvement in creatinine clearance. The incidence of rhabdomyolysis, elevated liver enzymes and withdrawal rates due to adverse events were not significantly different between patients when reported.