HEART UK - The Cholesterol Charity has condemned today’s Daily Express for putting a scaremongering headline on a statin story which may worry patients unnecessarily and in some cases may even encourage them to stop taking this important medication with potentially catastrophic results. In fact, Professor Julia Hippsely Cox, the author of today’s report in the British Medical Journal, based around an observational study, is quoted as saying that “people need to look at the risk as well as the benefits but, overall, the benefits do outweigh the risks”.

Dr Dermot Neely, Chairman of HEART UK’s Scientific, Medical and Research Committee says: “When prescribed appropriately for people with established cardiovascular disease or who are at particularly high cardiovascular risk, statins are of proven benefit which outweighs the small risk of side effects, which is low relative to other widely prescribed medicines. While a similar range of side effects, mostly minor, have been reported with all of the statins, the effects of different statins may vary in individual patients. The report’s finding of an increased incidence of cataracts is surprising as a previous large observational study appeared to show a protective effect1.”

Dr Neely also agreed with Professor Jane Armitage, Professor of Clinical Trials and Epidemiology & Honorary Consultant in Public Health Medicine Clinical Trial Service Unit & Epidemiological Studies Unit at Oxford University, who published a statin safety review in The Lancet two years ago, who said: “The large randomised tests of statins have overwhelming suggested that statins reduce the risks of heart attacks and strokes and have never suggested other hazards except the recognised rare effects on muscles and liver blood tests.”

As with other drugs, the risk of many of the common side effects of statins increases with higher doses. The statin dose required to achieve satisfactory cholesterol control is reduced by efforts to control weight, regular exercise and adherence to healthy diet low in saturated fats. Anyone who experiences unpleasant symptoms while taking any medication, including statins, should consult their doctor who will endeavour to establish the cause and may be able to recommend an alternative if a medication is found to be at fault.

1: Klein, B; JAMA 2006, Volume 295: 2752 – 2758.