Final answer:
Statins are the medication that decreases mortality in patients with recent coronary artery disease (CAD), as they effectively reduce cholesterol levels and the risk of subsequent cardiac events.
Step-by-step explanation:
Apart from beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, and aspirin, the medication that decreases mortality in patients with recent coronary artery disease (CAD) is statins. Statins are cholesterol-lowering medications that have been shown to reduce the risk of coronary artery disease. They work by inhibiting the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase, which plays a central role in the production of cholesterol in the liver. Reducing cholesterol levels is a critical step in reducing the risk of subsequent cardiac events and decreasing mortality in such patients. Statins help to reduce cholesterol and also reduce the risk of coronary artery disease. They are commonly prescribed to patients with CAD to help prevent future cardiovascular events.