TITLE:
The Ugly Side of Statins. Systemic Appraisal of the Contemporary Un-Known Unknowns
AUTHORS:
Sherif Sultan, Niamh Hynes
KEYWORDS:
Statin; Primary Prevention; Side-Effects; Diabetes Mellitus
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases,
Vol.3 No.3,
July
8,
2013
ABSTRACT:
Cardio-vascular
specialists have witnessed and actively participated in the revolutionary developments
that have occurred in their field of specialization over the last few years. Cutting-edge
technologies have led to dramatic improvements in life-expectancy and quality of
life. An open-mind and pioneering attitude are necessary when exploring new frontiers
to improve our patients’ health. However, naive indiscriminate acceptance of novel
mainstream therapies is not always advisable and prudence is required in unearthing
harmful, covert side effects. An objective review of contemporary vascular
research was performed and industrial bias was sifted out for a fresh prospective
on how to promote primary cardiovascular prevention with attainable lifestyle adjustments [1]. A comprehensive review of Pubmed, EM-BASE and Cochrane review
databases was undertaken for articles relating to cardiovascular primary prevention
and statin side effects with the aim of harmonising their roles within contemporary
clinic practice. Particular attention was paid to large-scale randomised controlled
trials on contemporary cardiovascular pharmacotherapies and their specific adverse
effects on metabolic pathways which feature prominently in cardiovascular primary
prevention and regenerative programmes. There is a categorical lack of clinical evidence to
support the use of statin therapy in primary prevention. Not only is there a dearth
of evidence for primary cardiovascular protection, there is ample evidence to show
that statins actually augment cardiovascular risk in women, patients with Diabetes
Mellitus and in the young. Furthermore statins
are associated with triple the risk of coronary artery and aortic artery calcification. Cardiovascular primary prevention and regeneration programmes, through life
style changes and abstaining from tobacco use have enhanced clinical efficacy and
quality of life over any pharmaceutical or other conventional intervention.