This study was published in JRSM Cardiovascular Disease 2016 Apr 21;5:2048004016639442
Study title and authors:
Association of statin use and stress-induced hyperglycemia in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction.
Yan C, Qin M, Juan YS, Tao LY, Dong GM, Zechun Z, Chun YX, Liang CH, Yin L, Kang M.
Department of Cardiology, Tianjin Chest Hospital, Tianjin, China.
Stress induced hyperglycemia is a medical term referring to transient elevation of blood glucose due to the stress of illness. Numerous studies have demonstrated a strong association between stress hyperglycemia and increased risk of poor clinical outcomes, including mortality, morbidity, length of hospital stay, infections and overall complications.
This study investigated the association of stress induced hyperglycemia following statin use in patients who had been hospitalized after a heart attack. The study included 476 patients who were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of diabetes.
The study found:
(a) In patients without diabetes, statin users had a 98% increased risk of stress induced hyperglycemia compared to those not taking statins.
(b) In patients with diabetes, statin users had a 3% increased risk of stress induced hyperglycemia compared to those not taking statins.
(c) Patients with stress induced hyperglycemia had a 161% increased risk of heart failure compared to patients without stress induced hyperglycemia.
(d) Patients with stress induced hyperglycemia had a 253% increased risk of dying in hospital compared to patients without stress induced hyperglycemia.
Yan concluded: "Statins are related to higher stress hyperglycemia and cardiac incidences after acute myocardial infarction."
Links to other studies:
Review reveals statins only extend life by 3 or 4 days. Closer analysis finds they may actually shorten life.
Statins double the risk of death in patients with coronary artery disease
Statins increase the risk of death in four year trial
