New research finds that cholesterol busting statins also reduce blood pressureMarch 09, 2007A new study led by researchers at Warwick Medical School at the University of Warwick reveals that patients using cholesterol busting statins get a bonus benefit from such drugs as the Warwick researchers have now found that statins also have a positive effect on blood pressure levels. The research, led by Professor Francesco Cappuccio at Warwick Medical School, examined 20 studies on the effects of statins that covered 828 patients. Of those 20 studies 291 patients were given statins, 272 were given a placebo and 265 were on crossover trials. Some of the studies looked specifically at hypertensive patients, the others considered a full range of conditions. The researchers found that the use of statins did produce a drop in blood pressure. The overall effect of the use of statins was a 1.9 mmHg reduction in systolic blood pressure and 0.9 mmHg in diastolic blood pressure. The effect was even more pronounced in patients with high blood pressure (systolic over 130 mmHg) who showed an average drop of 4.0 mmHg if treated with statins. This research clearly shows that treatment with statins produces a small but significant reduction in blood pressure. The effect is lower than the average effect of regular antihypertensive drugs. However this is an added bonus for patients already using statins to reduce cholesterol and the use of statins may reduce the dose and number of drugs a patient would require to keep their blood pressure at a satisfactory level. The research has just been published in (Hypertension 2007, doi: 10.1161/ 01.HYP.0000259737.43916.42) in a paper titled "Do Statins Reduce Blood Pressure? A Meta-Analysis of Randomized, Controlled Trials " Note for editors: The research was led by Professor Francesco Cappuccio at Warwick Medical School. The other researchers were from the Federico II University Medical School in Naples, Italy and St George's Medical School at the University of London. University of Warwick |
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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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