Statin side-effects questioned

Drugs taken to lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes may have fewer side-effects than claimed, researchers say.

Their review of 83,880 patients, published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, indicated an increased risk of type-2 diabetes.

But it suggested reports of increases in nausea, muscle ache, insomnia and fatigue were actually inaccurate.

It is a controversial area as the NHS in England is considering offering the drugs to millions more people.

The cholesterol-lowering drugs are already offered to about seven million people in the UK who have a one-in-five chance of heart disease in the next decade.

The NHS is considering offering the drugs to even healthier people who have only a one-in-10 chance of heart problems.

A team at the National Heart and Lung Institute in London analysed data from 29 clinical trials.

They suggested statins did reduce deaths, but contributed to a high rate of type-2 diabetes. One in five new cases of diabetes in people on statins were a direct result of taking the drugs.

Being obese, having high cholesterol, diabetes or high blood pressure all increase your cardiovascular risk

Their analysis suggested other side-effects appeared at a similar rate in people taking statins and those given dummy (placebo) pills.

One of the researchers, Dr Judith Finegold, said: "We clearly found that many patients in these trials - whose patients are usually well-motivated volunteers who didn't know if they were getting a real or placebo tablet - that many did report side-effects while taking placebo.

"In the general population, where patients are being prescribed a statin for an asymptomatic condition, why would it be surprising that even higher rates of side-effects are reported?

"Most people in the general population, if you repeatedly ask them a detailed questionnaire, will not feel perfectly well in every way on every day.

"Why should they suddenly feel well when taking a tablet after being warned of possible adverse effects?"

Commenting on the study, Doireann Maddock, from the British Heart Foundation, said: "Previous research has demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of statins.

"While all medications have the potential for side-effects, this research may offer further reassurance to the many people in the UK who are prescribed statins."