Despite evidence that aims to quash controversy over the safety and effectiveness of statins, uncertainty remains. Is the safety of statins as debatable as some stories suggest, or is the controversy behind this group of medicines potentially harming more people than the drug itself? We find out.
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Cholesterol is essential to keep the body in working order. However, having high levels of “bad cholesterol,” called low-density lipoprotein (LDL), in the blood can cause fatty deposits to build up in the arteries. Eventually, this buildup results in the arteries narrowing and hardening (a condition called atherosclerosis), which leads to a greater risk of heart attack and stroke.
Statins are a commonly prescribed medicine that helps to lower harmful levels of LDL cholesterol to mitigate the risks of cardiovascular disease.
Types of statins approved for use in the United States include atorvastatin, fluvastatin, lovastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin, simvastatin, and pitavastatin. They all work in a similar way by blocking the enzyme in the liver – HMG-CoA reductase – that produces cholesterol.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. In 2013, almost
Landmark studies have investigated the use of statins in secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease.
The Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study (4S) studied 4,444 people who had previously had a heart attack and high cholesterol. After a follow-up period of nearly 5.5 years, simvastatin was found to lower total cholesterol by
In the placebo group, there were
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The Cholesterol and Recurrent Events (CARE) trial studied 4,159 people with coronary heart disease and average cholesterol levels to examine the effect of lowering LDL levels on the occurrence of coronary events.
Reducing LDL cholesterol levels from average to low with pravastatin significantly reduced the number of recurring coronary events compared to the placebo group. During the 5-year follow-up, pravastatin lowered total cholesterol by 20 percent and LDL cholesterol by 28 percent.
Individuals treated with pravastatin were 24 percent less likely to die from cardiovascular heart disease or non-fatal heart attack and had a 31 percent decrease in risk of stroke. The CARE trial concluded that treatment with pravastatin reduces the burden of cardiovascular disease in individuals with a history of heart attack.
The Long-Term Intervention with Pravastatin in Ischemic Disease (LIPID) study investigated 9,014 people with a history of heart attack and a broad range of cholesterol levels. Researchers aimed to evaluate the effect of pravastatin on death from cardiovascular disease.
During the first 5 years of follow-up, pravastatin decreased total cholesterol by 18 percent and LDL cholesterol by 25 percent more than the placebo group. Individuals in the pravastatin group had a 24 percent reduced risk of death from coronary heart disease or non-fatal heart disease, were 29 percent less likely to have a heart attack, and received a 19 percent reduction in risk of stroke.
The LIPID study concluded that pravastatin is associated with a reduction in mortality from coronary heart disease and overall mortality in individuals who had previously had a heart attack.
Trials have consistently demonstrated a clear correlation between reducing LDL cholesterol with statins and a decrease in cardiovascular risk. So why the controversy?
As the body of evidence evaluating statins has expanded, so too have the indications for the drug.
- people with cardiovascular disease
- people who have high LDL cholesterol levels of 190 milligrams per deciliter or higher
- people aged 40 to 75 years with diabetes and LDL levels of 70-189 milligrams per deciliter
- people aged 40 to 75 years without diabetes, but with LDL cholesterol levels of 70-189 milligrams per deciliter and a predicted 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease of 7.5 percent or higher
Experts questioned the 2013 guidelines, arguing that a 7.5 percent threshold seemed too low. Two research teams examined this threshold in 2015 and published their findings in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The first
The second
Due to the expansion of the groups reported to benefit from statins, suspicions have been raised about the pharmaceutical industry and of the prescribing healthcare professionals. Alarm bells were starting to ring that people were being overmedicated and put at risk of adverse effects. These suspicions may be fuelled, in part, by a misunderstanding of clinical trials and how they work. Statins are one of the best-studied medications in randomized clinical trials. They have been found to reduce the number of strokes and heart attacks, even among people with normal cholesterol levels, and to extend life.
Moreover, statins have been found to improve cardiovascular health and prevent heart disease in individuals at an increased risk, even if they have already made changes to their diet and exercise levels.
While a heart-healthy diet, regular physical activity, and maintaining a healthy weight are all components that may help to reduce cholesterol and lower the risk of heart disease and stroke, certain factors are unable to be influenced – such as genetics. In some people, lifestyle changes alone are not enough to lower cholesterol.
The 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines are based on a large and consistent body of evidence that indicates the efficacy and safety of using statins to lower LDL in order to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Furthermore, subsequent independent groups that have developed guidelines – such as the 2014 Joint British Societies’ consensus recommendations for the prevention of cardiovascular disease, the 2014
Between 2003 and 2012, statin use increased from
According to a
There may be a link between the rise in statin use and the fall of deaths connected to cardiovascular disease. However, the progress made could be attributed to the “cumulative effect of better prevention, diagnosis, and treatment,” says Wayne D. Rosamond, Ph.D., professor of epidemiology at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.
Efforts that may play a role in the drop of death rates include quitting smoking, improvements to heart disease emergency response, better heart treatments and procedures, advances in scientific research, legislation to build healthier environments, and an increased public awareness about having a more healthful lifestyle.
Central to the ACC/AHA approach to the 2013 guidelines was the idea of “net ASCVD risk-reduction benefit” – questioning whether the likelihood of preventing a major cardiovascular event or death is greater than the risk that the drug therapy will cause a severe adverse event.
Statins are generally considered to be safe and well tolerated. However, as with any medication, statins may have negative effects in some people.
Muscle aches and cramps are the most commonly reported symptom and may occur in
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advise that statins are not recommended for pregnant women.
Recent
The research compared adverse events reported during randomized controlled trials (where the patient is unaware whether they are taking a placebo or drug) and observational studies (where the patient is aware that they are taking the drug). Researchers found that people who knew they were taking statins were
“We know that statins can prevent a significant number of heart attacks and strokes. We know there is a small increase in the risk of diabetes, and at high doses there is a very small increase in myopathy, but overall the benefits greatly outweigh the harms,” says Peter Sever, professor of clinical pharmacology and therapeutics at Imperial College London. “Widespread claims of high rates of statin intolerance still prevent too many people from taking an affordable, safe, and potentially life-saving medication.”
“There are people out there who are dying because they are not taking statins and the numbers are huge – the numbers are tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands, and they are dying because of a nocebo effect, in my opinion.”
Peter Sever
This research echoes a 2014 study, published in the European Journal of Preventative Cardiology, that analyzed the results of 29 trials involving more than 80,000 people. The study concluded that statins have minimal side effects and individuals taking statins experienced fewer adverse symptoms than those taking a placebo.
A 2016
In 2015, researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) examined data from the 2005-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys and
Statins have been researched for use in other conditions. Recent research shows that statins may reduce the risk of venous thromboembolism by
The mounting research appears to overturn debate around statins and aims to reassure doctors and patients that the risks of not taking statins – heart attack or stroke – far outweigh concerns about side effects associated with the drug. Serious side effects are rare. Study authors agree that the substantial proven benefits of statins have been compromised by “serious misrepresentations of the evidence for its safety.”
Evidence illustrates that, at a population level, statins are safe and effective. If you have a history of heart disease or stroke, it is likely that you will be prescribed a statin without consideration for cholesterol levels. For people who do not have any known cardiovascular disease, a doctor will assess your 10-year and lifetime risk for heart attack and stroke using a validated risk model.
Lifestyle changes – including smoking cessation, following a healthful diet, and taking part in regular physical activity – can help to prevent or delay cardiovascular disease.
Before starting statin therapy, it is important to discuss the potential benefits, risks, monitoring plans, and management of other risk factors with your physician.