Statins may cause a huge rise in breast cancer risk

This study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine 1996 Oct 3;335(14):1001-9

Study title and authors:
The effect of pravastatin on coronary events after myocardial infarction in patients with average cholesterol levels. Cholesterol and Recurrent Events Trial investigators.

Sacks FM, Pfeffer MA, Moye LA, Rouleau JL, Rutherford JD, Cole TG, Brown L, Warnica JW, Arnold JM, Wun CC, Davis BR, Braunwald E.
Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8801446

This study, named the Cholesterol and Recurrent Events Trial (CARE) investigated the effects of statins in patients with coronary disease, who have average (below 240 mg/dL or 6.2 mmol/L) cholesterol levels. The study was a double-blind, placebo controlled trial lasting five years and included 4,159 patients who received either 40 mg of pravastatin per day or placebo.

The study found:
(a) Those taking statins had a 19% reduced risk of death from coronary heart disease compared to placebo.
(b) Those taking statins had a 45% increased risk of death due to cardiovascular but noncoronary causes compared to placebo.
(c) Those taking statins had a 100% increased risk of violent death compared to placebo.
(d) Those taking statins had a 9% increased risk of death from cancer compared to placebo.
(e) Those taking statins had a 7% increased risk of any cancer compared to placebo.
(f) Women taking statins had a 1100% increased risk of breast cancer compared to placebo.

Dr Uffe Ravnskov, an expert in cholesterol, statins and heart disease, commented in his book 'The Cholesterol Myths': "Considering the large number of participants, this result doesn't seem particularly impressive... In fact, the reduction in coronary heart disease deaths was offset by the fact that in the treatment (statin) group a few more had died from other causes".



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

Statins increase aggression in women

This study was published in the Journal of Womens Health 2008 Mar;17(2):187-94

Study title and authors:

Lipid-lowering medication use and aggression scores in women: a report from the NHLBI-sponsored WISE study.

Olson MB, Kelsey SF, Matthews KA, Bairey Merz CN, Eteiba W, McGorray SP, Cornell CE, Vido DA, Muldoon MF.

Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18321170

The aim of this study was to examine the association between the use of cholesterol lowering medication and aggression. The study measured aggression levels in 498 women who had suspected heart disease.

The study revealed that women on cholesterol lowering medication (88% were on statins) had higher aggression levels than those not on medication.

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

Severe irritability associated with statin cholesterol-lowering drugs

This post includes a summary of a paper published in QJM 2004 Apr;97(4):229-35

Books:

Study title and authors:

Severe irritability associated with statin cholesterol-lowering drugs.

Golomb BA, Kane T, Dimsdale JE.

Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093-0995, USA. bgolomb@ucsd.edu

This paper can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15028853

The aim of this paper was to assess the possible connection of statin usage to severe irritability. The study included six patients referred or self-referred with irritability and short temper on statin cholesterol-lowering drugs who completed a survey providing information on character of behavioural effect, time-course of onset and recovery, and factors relevant to drug adverse effect causality.

Golomb found:
(a) In each case the personality disruption, once evident, was sustained until statin use was discontinued; and resolved promptly with drug cessation.
(b)  Manifestations of severe irritability included homicidal impulses, threats to others, road rage, generation of fear in family members, and damage to property.
(c) In four patients, re-challenge with statins occurred, and led to recurrence of the problem.
(d) All patients experienced other recognized statin adverse effects while on the drug (lack of sleep, anxiety, muscle problems, memory lapses, detachment, neuropathy, indifference, fatigue and loss of motivation).

Golomb concludes: "These case reports suggest that severe irritability may occur in some statin users".
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