Final answer:
Cholestyramine is the only bile acid-binding resin shown to reduce cardiovascular events by 20%, highlighting its usefulness in managing high cholesterol levels in conjunction with dietary changes.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention, bile acid-binding resins or sequestrants are used to help lower cholesterol levels. These drugs bind bile acids in the intestine, prompting the liver to use more cholesterol to produce more bile acids, which in turn reduces the level of cholesterol in the blood. Of the bile acid sequestrants available, cholestyramine is the only one that has been clinically proven to reduce cardiovascular events by approximately 20%.
This evidence comes from studies that have assessed the long-term effects of cholestyramine on patients with high cholesterol. When combined with dietary modification, the use of cholestyramine has been shown to provide a significant benefit in reducing the risk of CVD events, demonstrating its importance as part of a comprehensive treatment plan that may also include other medications such as statins, fibrates, or ezetimibe.