First approved only for people with a history of heart attack or stroke, cholesterol-lowering statin drugs are increasingly being recommended for people who have risk factors for heart disease but are otherwise healthy.
A new analysis published in the Cochrane Library finds there’s not enough evidence to support the use of statins in this low-risk population, though cardiologists contacted by the Sun-Times disputed the findings.
Cochrane researchers based their review on 14 clinical trials involving more than 34,000 patients, most of whom had no prior history of heart disease.
They found that statins lowered cholesterol levels and reduced fatal and non-fatal events without any negative effects on quality of life.
However, they also concluded that several of the studies were flawed. In particular, too many studies included patients with a history of cardiovascular disease and all but one were sponsored by the makers of the drugs being studied.
“This review highlights important shortcomings in our knowledge about the effects of statins in people who have no prior history of [cardiovascular disease],” said lead study author Fiona Taylor, of the Cochrane Heart Group in London. “The decision to prescribe statins in this group should not be taken lightly.”
But Dr. Christopher Cannon, of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, called the Cochrane analysis “biased,” saying “the conclusions say the opposite of what the data show.”
It also ignores more recent research showing benefits of statin use in certain low-risk patients, he said.
As for who may benefit from statin therapy, Cannon said every patient has a different risk profile that must be evaluated by their doctor.
The American Heart Association says healthy people with high cholesterol should try to lower their numbers through lifestyle changes. But if that doesn’t work, statins may be appropriate.
