This study was published in the Eastern Mediterranean health Journal 2011 May;17(5):460-4.
Study title and authors:
Patients' report of statins use and side-effects in a sample of hospitalized cardiac patients in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Mashayekhi SO, Ghandforoush-Sattari M, Baghdadchi ME, Kheyri M.
National Public Health Management Centre, Clinical Pharmacy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Islamic Republic of Iran. mashayekhis@yahoo.co.uk
This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21796961
The aim of the study was to ascertain the prevalence of the side-effects of statins among patients admitted to a cardiac-specialized hospital who had taken statins prior to hospitalization. Data was collected on 200 patients, average age 61.5 years.
The study found:
(a) 63.5% of patients reported experiencing side-effects due to statins.
(b) The side-effects included:
(bi) Gastrointestinal 18.5%
(bii) Headache 16.5%
(biii) Eleveated transaminase levels 12.5% (elevated transaminase levels indicate liver damage).
(biv) Muscle problems 9.5%
(bv) Alergic reactions 5%
(bvi) Respiratory problems 4%
(bvii) Rash 0.5%
(c) Muscle pain was observed in 100% of patients receiving 80 mg per day of atrovastatin.
Mashayekhi concludes that: "Clinicians should be aware of the adverse effects of statins".
National Public Health Management Centre, Clinical Pharmacy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Islamic Republic of Iran. mashayekhis@yahoo.co.uk
This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21796961
The aim of the study was to ascertain the prevalence of the side-effects of statins among patients admitted to a cardiac-specialized hospital who had taken statins prior to hospitalization. Data was collected on 200 patients, average age 61.5 years.
The study found:
(a) 63.5% of patients reported experiencing side-effects due to statins.
(b) The side-effects included:
(bi) Gastrointestinal 18.5%
(bii) Headache 16.5%
(biii) Eleveated transaminase levels 12.5% (elevated transaminase levels indicate liver damage).
(biv) Muscle problems 9.5%
(bv) Alergic reactions 5%
(bvi) Respiratory problems 4%
(bvii) Rash 0.5%
(c) Muscle pain was observed in 100% of patients receiving 80 mg per day of atrovastatin.
Mashayekhi concludes that: "Clinicians should be aware of the adverse effects of statins".
