Articles tagged with Statins
A recent study found that only about 60% of patients with coronary artery disease, stroke, or peripheral artery disease receive the recommended statin therapy. Despite a decrease in drug cost, disparities persist in statin use among different age groups, genders, and racial backgrounds.
Researchers found that 90% of symptoms reported by statin users were also experienced when taking a placebo. This suggests a psychological rather than pharmacological effect of statins. Despite concerns about side effects, half of participants restarted taking a statin medication six months after the trial.
In a new study, patients taking statins reported experiencing symptoms that were identical to those experienced while taking placebo pills. Researchers suggest that the nocebo effect may be the cause of these side effects, rather than an actual pharmacological effect of the drug.
The FOURIER analysis showed that Repatha reduced the risk of major coronary events by 18% in patients with prior PCI, who were at a high risk for CV events. This analysis demonstrates the benefit of PCSK9 inhibition with evolocumab in reducing major coronary events.
A study published in the European Heart Journal found that patients on statin treatment had a lower risk of dying from COVID-19, with a 22-25% mortality reduction. Researchers analyzed data from 2,159 patients and concluded that fear of the pandemic should not lead to suspension of statin treatment.
Researchers found that statins increase energy production in blood cells despite causing muscle pain. The study challenges the theory that statins lower energy levels and suggests different effects on various parts of the body.
A recent study published in eLife found that statins may lower overall cancer risk by inhibiting HMGCR enzymes, potentially through non-lipid lowering mechanisms. The research used genetic variants from UK Biobank and suggested a possible link between statin therapy and reduced cancer risk.
A clinical trial found that active choice nudges led to significant increases in optimal statin prescribing for patients with heart disease, while passive nudges had no effect. The study suggests that small design changes can improve the impact of alerts, and future research will focus on clinician and patient nudges.
Researchers at UC San Diego discovered that statins lower risk of severe COVID-19 and accelerate recovery times. Statins remove cholesterol from cell membranes, preventing SARS-CoV-2 entry, according to a new study.
Researchers found that glucocorticoid therapy, even at low doses (5mg/day or less), significantly increases the risk of serious infections in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. The study used claims data from over 200,000 patients with RA to show a 30% increase in infection risk among those on low-dose glucocorticoids.
A recent study found that combining aspirin, metformin, and statins may decrease lung cancer incidence and mortality. The research analyzed data from over 732,000 Koreans and discovered that concurrent use of these medications was associated with lower risk and mortality rates.
A large European study shows that combining lipid-lowering therapies can further reduce cholesterol levels and improve health outcomes for high-risk patients. Current clinical guidelines are not always followed in practice, highlighting a need for better cholesterol management across Europe.
Researchers at UArizona aim to reduce devastating effects of acute ischemic stroke by developing therapeutic treatments for acute stroke using statins. The study focuses on delivering statins to the brain, where their neuroprotective properties may save damaged tissue.
A retrospective analysis of US veterans aged 75 and older found statin use associated with a 25% lower risk of death from any cause. The study also showed benefits for cardiovascular events, including heart attacks and strokes, particularly in black participants.
A recent study suggests that coronary calcium scoring can guide personalized preventive care for individuals with moderate cardiovascular risk. The test identifies calcium deposits in the arteries, indicating atherosclerosis and high heart attack and stroke risk.
Researchers analyzed over 11,000 Twitter posts to understand patient attitudes towards statins, finding that people perceive themselves as protected from harm while taking preventative medications. This study may inform public health messages and improve communication between healthcare professionals and patients.
A recent study found that nearly all nursing home residents with life-limiting conditions were taking statins, despite unclear guidelines for this age group. The researchers concluded that continuing statin therapy in these patients may be unnecessary due to potential side effects and a lack of proven benefits.
Researchers found that statin use was associated with a lower death rate and mechanical ventilation incidence in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Statins were also linked to improved immune responses and reduced inflammation.
Researchers at KAIST designed nanoparticles that significantly reduce cholesterol and macrophage foam cells in arteries, two key triggers of atherosclerotic plaque. The combination drug delivery therapy showed great potential for treating and preventing atherosclerosis with reduced side effects.
The study found that statin therapy was associated with a decrease in the prevalence of Bact2 enterotype, which is linked to inflammatory bowel disease and depression. The researchers suggest that statins may be used to alter the gut microbiota, leading to new treatment options for cardiovascular disease.
Icosapent ethyl significantly reduces first and subsequent revascularizations, including coronary stenting and cardiac bypass surgery, in statin-treated patients with elevated triglycerides. The study found a 34% reduction in first revascularization events and higher reductions in subsequent events among statin-stabilized patients.
Research finds statin-treated individuals have lower prevalence of gut microbiota dysbiosis compared to non-treated obese individuals. The study suggests that statins may modulate harmful gut inflammation, potentially leading to a healthier microbiome.
Research finds that statin drugs may modulate disrupted gut microbiota and inflammation in obesity, with improved Bact2 enterotype composition in treated individuals compared to non-treated counterparts. Statin therapy may also have anti-inflammatory effects via improvement of an aberrant gut microbiota.
A study of 22,655 patients found that taking a PCSK9 inhibitor with a statin to achieve very low LDL-C levels did not cause increased incidence of neurocognitive impairments, including memory loss or reduction in executive functions. This confirms the safety of intensive LDL-C reduction for high-risk patients.
New research suggests that statin therapy may protect against heart damage caused by certain breast cancer therapies. A population-based study found a significantly lower risk of treatment-related heart failure among women taking statins while receiving anthracyclines or trastuzumab.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have discovered that statins can kill cancer cells by blocking the creation of a molecule necessary for their survival. The study suggests that statins may be valuable in combating certain types of cancer and could lead to new treatment options.
A genetic study found that long-term statin use may be associated with a 40% reduction in ovarian cancer risk in the general population and those with BRCA1/2 gene faults. The research used Mendelian randomization to analyze thousands of people's genetic data.
A recent study by Saarland University researchers identified a potential causal relationship between statin use and muscle pain. Statins are found to increase the production of the GILZ protein, which impairs muscle cell function, leading to increased muscle cell death and inhibition of muscle fiber formation.
Research found that statins, alone or with metformin, increase survival in men with high-risk prostate cancer. Metformin plus statin was associated with a 36% reduction in risk of death compared to non-users, while statins alone showed a 54% reduction in PCA mortality among patients with high-risk prostate cancer.
A two-year pilot study increased statin medication use by 24-45% and high-intensity statin treatment by 349%, resulting in significant decreases in total cholesterol and LDL levels. The partnership demonstrated the impact of public health partnerships on treating cardiovascular disease.
A new study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found no association between statin use and memory or cognitive decline in elderly patients. Statin users showed similar cognitive performance to never-users, suggesting potential protective effects in this population.
A study of over 1,000 elderly individuals reveals that statin use is not associated with memory loss or cognitive decline. In fact, statins may even slow down cognitive decline in individuals at risk of dementia.
The ORION-10 trial shows inclisiran significantly lowers LDL cholesterol in patients taking statin drugs, reducing heart attack and stroke risk. The medication's excellent safety profile and convenient dosing schedule make it a promising treatment option.
A 15-year study found that peripheral arterial disease patients may not be prescribed life-saving statins at the same rate as other atherosclerotic conditions. Statin prescription rates have increased over time, leading to improved patient outcomes, but a significant treatment gap remains.
Researchers found that patients who received nudges had better adherence (80%) compared to those in the control arm. Nudges supported patient decisions without restricting options.
American adults on cholesterol-lowering medications have seen improved overall cholesterol levels since the 2013 ACC/AHA Cholesterol Guideline was implemented. This is largely attributed to a shift towards a risk-based approach over target LDL-based management.
The National Institute on Aging has funded a major study to examine the benefits and risks of cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins in adults age 75 or older. The trial, called PREVENTABLE, aims to determine whether statin therapy can help prevent dementia and disability in this age group.
For most healthy individuals, statin use is uncertain and its benefits are small, while potential harms exist. The research suggests that lower-risk groups may not reach acceptable levels of risk reduction to justify taking daily statins.
A McMaster University study found that statin drugs cause muscle pain by releasing glutamate, a potent activator of pain receptors. Administering antioxidants like Vitamin E can help reduce glutamate release.
A study published in British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology found that statin use for as little as 91 days increased the risk of skin and soft tissue infections. Statin use was also associated with a higher risk of developing diabetes, which is a significant risk factor for these infections.
A study of over 13,000 cancer-free men found statin use was associated with a lower risk of developing prostate cancer. The association was strongest for aggressive tumors and only observed at high doses or long durations.
Researchers discovered a correlation between statin dosage and osteoporosis diagnosis in a large patient dataset. Lower doses of cholesterol-lowering drugs were found to protect against bone resorption, while higher doses increased the risk of osteoporosis.
A study of 691 patients found that starting statins late did not increase mortality risk, but rather reducing dosage did. Patients who took high-dose statins throughout the study had the lowest mortality rate, while those with reduced dosages had the highest death rate.
The European Society of Cardiology and European Atherosclerosis Society Guidelines recommend lowering LDL cholesterol levels to prevent cardiovascular disease. Lowering LDL cholesterol reduces risk regardless of the baseline concentration, making it effective even in people at very high risk of heart attack or stroke.
Research suggests that statins cause spontaneous calcium leaks in muscle cells, leading to pain and weakness in susceptible individuals. Moderate exercise may prevent this leak and mitigate symptoms, according to the study.
A nationwide cohort study found that lipophilic statin use was associated with significantly lower risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incident, all-cause death, and liver-related death. The benefits were dose and duration-dependent, with the greatest reduction in HCC risk occurring after at least 600 cumulative defined daily doses.
A nationwide French study of 120,173 people aged 75 found that those who stopped taking statins had a 33% increased risk of heart or blood vessel problems. Discontinuing statin treatment was associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular events, including heart attacks and strokes.
A large retrospective study found that statins are significantly underutilized in patients with and at risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Despite known benefits, only two-thirds of these patients were receiving moderate/high-intensity statins.
A recent analysis found that US patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have a high prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension and diabetes, highlighting the need for improved care. The study also reveals low use of statins in CKD patients, which is not concordant with guidelines.
Researchers found that statin users had a 22% lower risk of all-cause death compared to non-users, as well as a 23% reduction in the risk of stroke. The protective effect was seen across various patient groups, including those with vascular dementia.
A recent study by Jae Hee Kang et al., published in JAMA Ophthalmology, initially reported a significant association between long-term statin use and reduced primary open-angle glaucoma risk. However, due to serious coding errors, the findings were later retracted.
A study of thousands of patients found that statin users had more than double the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The analysis revealed a dose-dependent relationship between statin use and diabetes diagnosis.
Research found statin therapy significantly reduced stroke risk and overall cardiovascular events in cancer patients who underwent radiation therapy for chest, head, or neck cancer. The study also showed a strong trend toward reduction in cardiovascular deaths.
A recent study found that lowering cholesterol with statins does not decrease the activation of immune cells in patients with high cholesterol levels. This 'trained immunity' allows immune cells to 'remember' previous exposures and maintain hyperactivity despite cholesterol reduction.
A mathematical model found that physician burnout costs the US healthcare system approximately $4.6 billion per year, with potential economic value for reducing burnout through policy and organizational efforts. Accessing patient notes may also improve medication adherence and patient comfort.
This observational study found that statin use was associated with a modestly reduced risk of long-term dementia after a concussion in older adults. The analysis examined nearly 29,000 adults and found that the risk of dementia was substantial, but statin use helped mitigate this risk.
A meta-analysis of 14 studies involving 130,994 patients found that pre-diagnosis statin use reduced the risk of early death from any cause and cancer by 15% and 18%, respectively. Post-diagnosis statin use also showed lower mortality rates
A new study finds that a third of people taking statin medications in Indiana do not reach a safe level of LDL-C, putting them at increased risk for cardiovascular disease events. Reducing their bad cholesterol levels could save $1,455 per person and avoid 1,173 cardiovascular disease events.
A recent study of over 136,000 adults found that high cholesterol levels are associated with an increased risk for primary open-angle glaucoma. In contrast, longer use of statins was linked to a lower risk of POAG, particularly among those 65 and older.
Research from the University of Illinois Chicago shows that pharmacies closing leads to decreased adherence to heart medications like statins and beta-blockers. People living in low-access neighborhoods or using independent pharmacies are most affected.