"Why not focus more tightly on C-reactive protein?"
I think it should.
"Higher CRP levels tend to be found in smokers and in people who are sedentary, overweight or who have high blood pressure. Lean, athletic individuals tend to have lower CRP levels."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C-reactive_protein
This is why smoking is dangerous and smokers die so much earlier than smokers. I have a brother who had to have bypass surgery in his calves at age 53 from smoking. And an uncle who had two amputations of his lower legs from smoking. I quit 34 years ago and am 63 and no such problems.
It's non-specific, and I'd rather treat a patient than a number.
Coming of Age of C-Reactive Protein
"Statins have been shown to reduce CRP levels by 25% to 50% in previous studies.19–21 Thus, this approach has the potential to lower the LDL cholesterol and CRP level simultaneously. A prospective, long-term study has been planned to test this hypothesis. Furthermore, CRP levels could be used to motivate patients to modify their lifestyles more aggressively. Recent studies have shown that losing weight and controlling diabetes also lower CRP levels.22,23 Thus, patients can use their CRP levels as an inflammation fitness score to monitor improvement in their cardiovascular health."
"The literature review found that reports of muscle problems during statin clinical trials are extremely rare. The FDA MEDWATCH Reporting System lists 3339 cases of statin-associated rhabdomyolysis reported between January 1, 1990, and March 31, 2002. Cerivastatin was the most commonly implicated statin. Few data are available regarding the frequency of less-serious events such as muscle pain and weakness, which may affect 1% to 5% of patients. The risk of rhabdomyolysis and other adverse effects with statin use can be exacerbated by several factors, including compromised hepatic and renal function, hypothyroidism, diabetes, and concomitant medications."(partial abstract)
That's the best citation for hard numbers that I've been able to find.