Statins may increase diabetes risk
A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) warns that people taking high-dose statins are increasing their chances of getting diabetes. Researchers found that people taking 80mg doses of simvastatin or atorvastatin (both of which are widely prescribed) over a period of 5 years were 12% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. Nevertheless, the benefits outweigh the risks according to experts. Statins lower cholesterol, and therefore reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
In England, roughly 200,000 people, most of whom have suffered a heart attack or stroke already, take 80mg doses of simvastatin or atorvastatin on a daily basis. The new research, which was supervised by Dr David Preiss at Glasgow University, took its data from five separate studies covering 33,000 people taking moderate or high-dose statins. None of the people in the sample had diabetes when the research began.
The researchers found that for every 498 people taking high-dose statins for a year, an extra person would develop diabetes compared with if they had all been taking moderate-dose statins. On the other hand, the high-dose statins would prevent at least 3 more cardiovascular events in a group that size.
Dr Preiss was also involved in another study published in The Lancet last year, in which researchers discovered that taking moderate doses of statins led to a 9% increase over 4 years in the chance of developing type 2 diabetes.
Researchers have not yet been able to establish why statins seem to trigger diabetes in some individuals. Experts have emphasised that nobody who has been prescribed statins should discontinue taking them because of this research. Dr Sharlin Ahmed at The Stroke Association said that all patients should be appraised and treated on an individual basis, and that the risk of developing diabetes should be weighed up against the chance of having a stroke or heart attack for each case.
In England, roughly 200,000 people, most of whom have suffered a heart attack or stroke already, take 80mg doses of simvastatin or atorvastatin on a daily basis. The new research, which was supervised by Dr David Preiss at Glasgow University, took its data from five separate studies covering 33,000 people taking moderate or high-dose statins. None of the people in the sample had diabetes when the research began.
The researchers found that for every 498 people taking high-dose statins for a year, an extra person would develop diabetes compared with if they had all been taking moderate-dose statins. On the other hand, the high-dose statins would prevent at least 3 more cardiovascular events in a group that size.
Dr Preiss was also involved in another study published in The Lancet last year, in which researchers discovered that taking moderate doses of statins led to a 9% increase over 4 years in the chance of developing type 2 diabetes.
Researchers have not yet been able to establish why statins seem to trigger diabetes in some individuals. Experts have emphasised that nobody who has been prescribed statins should discontinue taking them because of this research. Dr Sharlin Ahmed at The Stroke Association said that all patients should be appraised and treated on an individual basis, and that the risk of developing diabetes should be weighed up against the chance of having a stroke or heart attack for each case.
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