Research suggests statins ‘don’t work well for one in two people’

Investigators studied 165,000 patients who were on cholesterol-lowering statins and their research revealed that for one in two patients, the medication had little to no effect on bad cholesterol, one of the highest risk factors for heart disease.

The reason for this remains unclear, but one possible explanation is that patients may not be taking the medication at the prescribed level or doctors may be giving them too low a dose.

Currently in the UK around 150,000 lives are claimed each year due to cardiovascular disease. A major contributor to this is ‘bad’ low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which can lead to blockage and furring of blood vessels.

Millions of patients are prescribed statins as, although cutting down on saturated fat can help lower bad-cholesterol, some people also need the added assistance of medication.

This study involved patients who had been prescribed statins to reduce their risk of developing heart disease by lowering their cholesterol to a healthy level. Fifty per cent of the patients did not see their cholesterol reduce by enough (40 per cent or more reduction specified by guidelines) even after following the daily treatment for two years.

Dr Stephen Weng, one of the researchers, said “Our research has shown that in almost half of patients prescribed statins, they are very effective and offer significant protection against cardiovascular disease.

“However, for the other half – whether it’s due to your genetic make-up, having side effects, sticking to the treatment or other medications – we don’t see that intended benefit.”

He went on to say “We have to develop better ways to understand differences between patients and how we can tailor more effective treatment for those millions of patients who are simply blanket-prescribed statins.”

Chairwoman of the Royal College of GPs, Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, said “When we prescribe medication, we have to rely on patients to make sure that they take it, both at the recommended dose and for the duration of time that we think will benefit them most.

“There are complex reasons why patients choose not to take their prescribed medication, and mixed messaging around statins could be one of these.”

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Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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