Statins up diabetes risk; benefits still outweigh risks

The findings are based on 13 statin trials involving a total of 91,140 people from 1994 to 2009 analyzed by a research team from the Glasgow University.

Dr Iain Frame, from Diabetes UK, said, "This small increased risk is heavily outweighed by the benefits of statins in those at high risk of heart problems.

“This research, therefore, should on no account be taken as a reason for those over 60 at high risk of heart disease to stop taking statins."

Outcome of the study
On analyzing their medical records, the researchers found that 2,226 participants taking statins and 2,052 people in the control groups developed diabetes over an average of four years.

Overall, the statin therapy was shown to raise the risk of becoming diabetic by around nine percent, and it mainly affected the older adults above 60.

However, the benefits of the drug were shown to outweigh the risk and the absolute risk of developing the condition remained low.

The findings also suggest treating 255 patients with statins for four years would have resulted in one extra case of diabetes. However, the same treatment would have prevented five coronary events such as a heart attack, or a stroke.

A word of caution
To resolve the issue further, the researchers added that people who are prescribed the drug should not stop taking it. Also, patients with moderate or high cardiovascular risk need not stop taking statins.

The researchers concluded, "In view of the overwhelming benefit of statins for reduction of cardiovascular events, the small absolute risk for development of diabetes is outweighed by cardiovascular benefit in the short and medium term in individuals for whom statin therapy is recommended.

"We therefore suggest that clinical practice for statin therapy does not need to change for patients with moderate or high cardiovascular risk or existing cardiovascular disease.

"However, the potentially raised diabetes risk should be taken into account if statin therapy is considered for patients at low cardiovascular risk or patient groups in which cardiovascular benefit has not been proven."

The study has been published in the Journal Lancet.

Statin--the wonder drug
Statins are a class of drugs which reduce cholesterol levels in the body, a major risk factor for heart attacks.

Past studies have shown that the ‘wonder drug’ could also cut back the risk of suffering a blood clot.

Some of the studies have also found that statins could be used as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.