Statin treatment increases the risk of death from cancer

This study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association 2002 Dec 18;288(23):2998-3007

Study title and authors:

Major outcomes in moderately hypercholesterolemic, hypertensive patients randomized to pravastatin vs usual care: The Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT-LLT).

ALLHAT Officers and Coordinators for the ALLHAT Collaborative Research Group. 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12479764

This study, which lasted for 6 years, was designed to determine whether pravastatin compared with patients usual medical care, reduces death rates in patients aged 55 or older who have high cholesterol and blood pressure and other heart disease risk factors. 10,355 participants were enrolled in the study and were assigned into 2 groups where they received either 40 mg of pravastatin a day or their usual medical care.

The researchers found at the end of the 6 year study:
(a) Heart disease death rates were virtually identical in both groups.
(b) Those who took statins had an 11% increased risk of death from cancer compared to those who did not take statins.
(c) Those who took statins had an 7% increased risk of suicide/homocide/accidental death compared to those who did not take statins.

The results of this study suggest that statin treatment increases the risk of death from cancer.



Links to other studies:
Statins may promote cancer in certain segments of the population
Statins raise prostate cancer risk of obese men
Young women who are treated with statins may be at increased risk for the development of breast cancer

Statin use leads to more falls and a decline in muscle strength

This post includes a synopsis of a study published in QJM 2009 Sep;102(9):625-33

Study title and authors:
Statin therapy, muscle function and falls risk in community-dwelling older adults
Scott D, Blizzard L, Fell J, Jones G.
Menzies Research Institute, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, 7001, Australia. dsscott@utas.edu.au

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19633029

The aim of this study of 774 older adults was to describe the differences between statin users and non-users in leg strength, leg muscle quality and fall risk.

The study found:
(a) Statin users had more falls than non-statin users.
(b) Statin users had decreased leg strength compared to non-statin users.
(c) Statin users had lower muscle quality compared to non-statin users.
(d) Statin users had decreased leg strength and lower muscle quality compared to those who had ceased statin use.

To conclude, statin use leads to more falls and a decline in muscle strength. These effects may be reversible with cessation of the drug.

 

 

Links to other studies:

Statins cause a drop in energy levels and more fatigue

Statin use linked to musculoskeletal diseases, joint pain and injuries

Do statins cause a deterioration in pain-free walking?

Scientists raise fears of cancer link to statin used by thousands

This post includes a synopsis of a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine September 25, 2008; 359(13): 1343-56

Study title and authors:
Intensive lipid lowering with simvastatin and ezetimibe in aortic stenosis.
AB Rossebo, TR Pedersen, K Boman, P Brudi, JB Chambers, K Egstrup, E Gerdts, C Gohlke-Barwolf, I Holme, YA Kesaniemi, W Malbecq, CA Nienaber, S Ray, T Skjaerpe, K Wachtell, R Willenheimer, and SEAS Investigators
Division of Cardiology, Aker University Hospital, Trondheimsveien 235, N-0514 Oslo, Norway.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18765433

This trial observed the effects of the drug Inegy (a combination of simvastatin and ezetimibe).The trial was a randomizsd, double-blind trial involving 1,873 patients with mild-to-moderate, asymptomatic aortic stenosis (obstruction of blood flow across the aortic valve). The patients received either 40 mg of simvastatin plus 10 mg of ezetimibe or placebo daily and were followed for 52 months.

The study found:
(a) Those taking the simvastatin/ezetimibe combination had a 4% increased risk of death compared to those taking placebo.
(b) Those taking the simvastatin/ezetimibe combination had a 21% increased risk of death from heart failure compared to those taking placebo.
(c) Those taking the simvastatin/ezetimibe combination had a 67% increased risk of death from cancer compared to those taking placebo.
(d) Those taking the simvastatin/ezetimibe combination had a 195% increased risk of death from violence or accidents compared to those taking placebo.

Professor Heinz Drexel, of the University of Innsbruck in Austria and spokesman for the European Society of Cardiology, said: "I am not sure that the efficacy is proven and I am not sure that the safety is proven. I wouldn't take the drug myself".

In Britain, about 300,000 NHS prescriptions have been dispensed for Inegy in the last two years.

 

 

 

Links to other studies:

Statins increase aggression in women

Statin use increases the risk of breast and prostate cancer

Doctor says that statins may be the cause of the current heart failure and atherosclerosis epidemic