New study raises questions over broader use of statins
June 29th, 2010 - 4:47 pm ICT by ANIWashington, June 29 (ANI): There is no evidence that using cholesterol-lowering statins can reduce the risk of death in people at high risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) but without any prior history of CVD, a meta-analysis of previously published studies has concluded.
“Statins are now one of the most widely used drugs for the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease both among individuals with established disease and among high-risk healthy individuals who are at elevated risk of incident [new-onset] cardiovascular disease,” the authors said
“There is little debate that, compared with placebo, statin therapy among individuals with established coronary heart disease not only prevents complications related to atherosclerosis but also reduces all-cause mortality [death],” they added.
However, there is little evidence that statins reduce the risk of dying from any cause in individuals without heart disease.
This, along with harms caused by statins in some subgroups, have called into question the benefit of statins in primary prevention (prevention of the development of heart disease).
In the meta-analysis, Kausik K. Ray, Sreenivasa Rao Kondapally Seshasai, and Sebhat Erqou, of University of Cambridge and Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, England, and colleagues combined data from 11 studies involving 65,229 participants.
A total of 32,623 individuals were assigned to take statins and 32,606 individuals were assigned to take placebo. Some data about participant deaths was obtained from the originally published studies, whereas in other cases, study investigators were contacted for updated information.
Over an average of 3.7 years of follow-up, 2,793 participants died, including 1,447 assigned to take placebo and 1,346 assigned to take statins. This did not represent a statistically significant reduction in the risk of dying associated with statin use.
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or “bad” cholesterol) levels were higher among those taking placebo than those taking statins (134 milligrams per deciliter vs. 94 milligrams per deciliter). However, there was no association between risk of death and either LDL levels at the beginning of the study or average reduction in LDL levels.
The results of the current meta-analysis indicate the need for caution when extending the potential benefits of statins to a wider population.
The study has been published in the June 28 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. (ANI)
- Meta-analysis shows folic acid supplements not beneficial for heart - Oct 12, 2010
- Dairy products aren't necessarily bad for your health - Feb 12, 2011
- Scientists find 13 new genes linked to heart diseases - Mar 07, 2011
- Eat nuts to improve cholesterol levels - May 11, 2010
- Cholesterol-lowering statins 'raise diabetes risk' - Feb 17, 2010
- A handful of pistachios a day can help keep heart doc away - May 18, 2010
- New polypill halves heart disease and stroke risk - May 26, 2011
- Heart risks linked to diabetes drug - Jun 29, 2010
- High levels of 'good' cholesterol linked to lower risk of Alzheimer's - Dec 14, 2010
- Stronger anti-cholestrol drugs can cut heart attack deaths - Nov 09, 2010
- Pine-bark extract offers no heart benefit: Study - Sep 28, 2010
- Mediterranean diet a sound recipe for healthy living - Mar 08, 2011
- Study says that Mediterranean diet fights heart disease - Mar 10, 2011
- Weight loss from surgery cuts risk for cardiovascular disease in women - Sep 17, 2010
- Healthy habits in youth linked to better cholesterol levels in adulthood - Jan 04, 2011
Tags: bad cholesterol, cambridge england, cause mortality, cholesterol levels, coronary heart disease, cvd, heart disease, high risk, ldl, low density lipoprotein, meta analysis, prevention of cardiovascular disease, primary prevention, rao, risk of cardiovascular disease, s hospital, statins, study investigators, subgroups, university of cambridge