Statins use associated with lower risk of fracturesSeptember 27, 2005CHICAGO - In a large study of elderly, predominately male veterans, statin use was associated with a 36 percent reduction in risk of fracture when compared with no lipid-lowering therapy, according to a study in the September 26 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Several biological mechanisms have been proposed to explain an association between statins and bone health, including reduced inflammation and promotion of new bone growth through improvements in small blood vessel function, according to background information in the article. Previous studies have shown an association between statin use and fracture reduction. However, most studies have been of populations of women even though many statin users are elderly men with heart disease. The authors suggest that assessing this relationship in a male population would be especially relevant. Richard E. Scranton, M.D., M.P.H., of the Massachusetts Veterans Epidemiology Research and Information Center, Boston, and colleagues analyzed data from patients who received care in the V.A. health care system between January 1, 1998, and June 30, 2001 to compare the rate of bone fractures in individuals using statins versus those not taking statins. Information on individuals' health status, race, age and body mass index (BMI) as well as other medications that might be associated with bone fracture were included in the analysis. Of the 91,052 individuals included in the study, 28,063 were prescribed only statins, 2,195 were prescribed nonstatin lipid-lowering medications alone, and the remaining 60,794 were not prescribed any lipid-lowering medications during the period of the study. "More than 28,000 of these individuals were using statins, making this study one of the largest to evaluate the association between statins and fractures," the researchers report. "The use of statins in this study was associated with a 36 percent reduction in fracture risk compared with no lipid-lowering therapy and a 32 percent risk reduction when compared with other lipid-lowering therapy. These findings did not deviate significantly after adjustment for various covariates, including BMI." "In our large cohort of mostly male veterans, statin therapy was associated with a reduction in fractures," the authors conclude. Our study represents one of the largest studies to date of individuals receiving statins and the evaluation of fracture risk. Although we were limited in adjusting for all known confounders, this study provides additional information that fuels the debate of whether statins protect individuals against fractures. Further research is necessary to confirm or refute our findings.\\\ JAMA and Archives Journals |
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| Related Statins Current Events and Statins News Articles Early end to key study on benefits of niacin, a B vitamin, in keeping arteries open was premature Heart experts at Johns Hopkins are calling premature the early halt of a study by researchers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Washington Hospital Center on the benefits of combining extended-release niacin, a B vitamin, with cholesterol-lowering statin medications to prevent blood vessel narrowing. Researchers mobilizing global resources to test new treatments for severe H1N1 infection An important, ground-breaking initiative is unfolding in the global critical care community in response to the H1N1 pandemic. Widely used cholesterol-lowering drug may prevent progression Simvastatin, a commonly used, cholesterol-lowering drug, may prevent Parkinson's disease from progressing further. Neurological researchers at Rush University Medical Center conducted a study examining the use of the FDA-approved medication in mice with Parkinson's disease and found that the drug successfully reverses the biochemical, cellular and anatomical changes caused by the disease. Statins show dramatic drug and cell dependent effects in the brain Besides their tremendous value in treating high cholesterol and lowering the risk of heart disease, statins have also been reported to potentially lower the risks of other diseases, such as dementia. Cholesterol-lowering medicines may be effective against cancer Statins lower cholesterol by blocking certain enzymes involved in our metabolism. Adding ezetimibe to atorvastatin improves lipid control Adding ezetimibe to atorvastatin significantly boosted the attainment of lipid targets as specified by both Canadian and European guidelines in elderly patients aged 65 and older and the combination produced superior results than simply increasing the dose of atorvastatin alone. Use of statins favors the wealthy, creating new social disparities in cholesterol Since the introduction of statins to treat high cholesterol, the decline in lipid levels experienced by the wealthy has been double that experienced by the poor. Women with Atrial Fibrillation Are at Significantly Higher Risk of Stroke and Death Compared to Men and Receive Less Attention Even though the incidence of atrial fibrillation is higher in men than women, a review of past studies and medical literature completed by cardiac experts at Rush University Medical Center shows that women are more likely than men to experience symptomatic attacks, a higher frequency of recurrences, and significantly higher heart rates during atrial fibrillation, which increases the risk of stroke. Pre-hospital organization: The first links in the chain of survival for heart attack patients Mortality rate following a heart attack has fallen by more than 50% in Europe over the past 25 years. However, because only minor advances in the medical treatment of AMI are expected over the next decade, it is through organisational changes in the pre-hospital phase that mortality rate will continue this decline to below 5%. Fatostatin' is a turnoff for fat genes A small molecule earlier found to have both anti-fat and anti-cancer abilities works as a literal turnoff for fat-making genes, according to a new report in the August 28th issue of the journal Chemistry and Biology, a Cell Press journal. More Statins Current Events and Statins News Articles |
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