We identified 155 patients who were admitted with an acute coronary syndrome and a low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level<or=80 mg/dl and were not on statin therapy at hospital admission. The relation between statin therapy at discharge and clinical outcome was evaluated in these patients. Compared with patients who were not discharged on statins, those who were had a lower incidence of death, reinfarction, or stroke at 6 months (29.0% vs 9.5%, p=0.005). These results suggest that patients who have an acute coronary syndrome and a low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level<or=80 mg/dl in the absence of statin therapy may benefit from such therapy at discharge.