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Statin side-effects minimal, study finds Statin side-effects minimal, study finds
(6 months later)
Scientists examining the results of 29 trials involving more than Scientists examining the results of 29 trials involving more than 80,000 people found that only a small minority of side effects were attributable to statins. Patients were found to have a greater number of serious adverse effects from inactive pills taken as part of a control group.
80,000 people found that only a small minority of side effects were As many as seven million people in the UK take statins to help lower cholesterol and combat heart disease. According to the National Health Service minor side effects of taking the drugs include an upset stomach, headache or insomnia. More serious side effects are rare but include kidney failure.
attributable to statins. Researchers from Imperial College London’s National Heart and Lung Institute say in their study that out of the side effects assessed – which included nausea, kidney disorder, muscular disease and breakdown, insomnia, fatigue and gastrointestinal disturbance – only the risk of diabetes was found to be slightly raised by the drugs.
Patients were found to have a greater number of serious adverse effects from inactive pills taken as part of a control group. The authors of the report, published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, are calling on drug regulators to provide clear evidence to patients about claims over side effects. They said: “Patients and doctors need clear, reliable information about benefits and risks to make informed decisions.” The scientists acknowledged that many patients taking statins reported side effects, in contrast to the study’s results.
As many as seven million people in the UK take statins to help lower cholesterol and combat heart disease. Dr Judith Finegold, part of the team carrying out the research, said: “We clearly found that many patients in these trials – whose patients are usually well-motivated volunteers who didn’t know if they were getting a real or placebo tablet – that many did report side effects while taking placebo.
According to the National Health Service minor side effects of taking the drugs include “In the general population, where patients are being prescribed a statin for an asymptomatic condition, why would it be surprising that even higher rates of side effects are reported?
an upset stomach, headache or insomnia. More serious side effects are “Most people in the general population, if you repeatedly ask them a detailed questionnaire, will not feel perfectly well in every way on every day. Why should they suddenly feel well when taking a tablet after being warned of possible adverse effects?”
rare but include kidney failure. Dr Finegold said the results would not necessarily add weight to the argument for the wider prescription of statins. “We believe that patients should be empowered to make their own decisions, but we must first make sure they have top quality, unbiased information.
Researchers from Imperial College London’s National Heart and “This is why we call on drug regulators to highlight in the long lists of side effects those few whose rate is incrementally greater than that experienced with a dummy tablet.”
Lung Institute say in their study that out of the side effects assessed – which included Last month it emerged that millions more patients in the UK could be prescribed statins to help prevent cardiovascular disease. In draft guidance to the NHS for England and Wales, which is subject to consultation, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) cut by half the threshold for when doctors should consider prescribing the drugs.
nausea, kidney disorder, muscular disease and breakdown, insomnia, At present people with a 20% risk of developing cardiovascular disease within 10 years are offered statins but this is being altered to include all people with a 10% risk of developing cardiovascular disease within 10 years.
fatigue and gastrointestinal disturbance – only the risk of diabetes was
found to be slightly raised by the drugs.
The authors of the report, published in the European Journal of
Preventive Cardiology, are calling on drug regulators to provide clear
evidence to patients about claims over side effects.
They said: “Patients and doctors need clear, reliable information about benefits and risks to make informed decisions.”
The scientists acknowledged that many patients taking statins reported side effects, in contrast to the study’s results.
Dr Judith Finegold, part of the team carrying out the research,
said: “We clearly found that many patients in these trials – whose
patients are usually well-motivated volunteers who didn’t know if they
were getting a real or placebo tablet – that many did report side
effects while taking placebo.
“In the general population, where patients are being prescribed a
statin for an asymptomatic condition, why would it be surprising that
even higher rates of side effects are reported?
“Most people in the general population, if you repeatedly ask them a
detailed questionnaire, will not feel perfectly well in every way on
every day. Why should they suddenly feel well when taking a tablet after
being warned of possible adverse effects?”
Dr Finegold said the results would not necessarily add weight to the argument for the wider prescription of statins.
“We believe that patients should be empowered to make
their own decisions, but we must first make sure they have top quality,
unbiased information.
“This is why we call on drug regulators to highlight in the long
lists of side effects those few whose rate is incrementally greater than
that experienced with a dummy tablet.”
Last month it emerged that millions more patients in the UK could be prescribed statins to help prevent cardiovascular disease.
In draft guidance to the NHS for England and Wales, which is subject
to consultation, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
(Nice) cut by half the threshold for when doctors should consider
prescribing the drugs.
At present people with a 20% risk of developing cardiovascular
disease within 10 years are offered statins but this is being altered to
include all people with a 10% risk of developing cardiovascular disease
within 10 years.
The NHS estimates that statins save 7,000 lives a year in the UK.The NHS estimates that statins save 7,000 lives a year in the UK.