A new study, published in the BMJ, to quantify the unintended effects of statins according to type, dose, and duration of use found that statin use was associated with increased risks of serious liver dysfunction, acute renal failure, moderate or serious myopathy ( muscle weakness) and cataracts.
Researchers examined the medical records of over 2 million patients who registered at GP practices in England and Wales, the patients were monitored over a period of 6 years. They found that Simvastatin was the most prescribed statin and the side effects are already known. Eestimates of the absolute risks were also provided : for 10,000 people, there would be 17 extra cases of kidney failure, 252 cataracts, 65 liver problems and 32 myopathy. The adverse effects were similar across the statin types for each outcome except liver dysfunction where fluvastatin was associated with the highest risks.
The accompanying editorial says that the benefits of statins seem to outweigh the risks. It is suggested that patients should not change their medication.
Source: Hippisley-Cox J, and C Coupland. Unintended effects of statins in men and women in England and Wales: population based cohort study using the QResearch database. BMJ 2010;340:c2197 ( f/t via Athens)
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