A landmark review has concluded that the cholesterol-lowering medications do not actually cause the vast majority of side effects attributed to statins.
The systematic review published in The Lancet and meta-analysis found no strong evidence linking statins to 62 of the 66 adverse effects currently listed on product labels.
Beyond the established risks of muscle pain and diabetes, researchers identified just four side-effects supported by evidence: liver test changes, minor liver abnormalities, urine changes and tissue swelling. Even these risks are very small, according to the findings.
The drugs have been taken by hundreds of millions of people globally over three decades and are proven to prevent heart attacks, strokes and cardiovascular deaths.
Scientists found no strong evidence linking statins to 62 of the 66 adverse effects currently listed on product labels
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Yet millions have avoided them due to longstanding safety concerns.
The research represents the most thorough examination of statin side-effect evidence ever conducted.
Scientists analysed data from 19 randomised controlled trials encompassing 124,000 participants, with follow-up periods averaging four-and-a-half years.
Commonly cited adverse effects such as memory problems, depression, sleep disturbances, and nerve damage causing tingling sensations in hands and feet, were among those found to lack supporting evidence.
The analysis demonstrated that the likelihood of experiencing most listed side-effects was minimal, while the protective benefits substantially outweighed any potential harms.
Researchers concluded that product labelling should be revised to accurately reflect the scientific evidence, enabling both patients and clinicians to make better-informed decisions about statin therapy.
Christina Reith, an associate professor at Oxford University and the study’s lead author, said: “What we were able to show reliably was that statins did not make these commonly experienced events occur more often.”
She explained that the proportion of people experiencing memory loss or sleep problems annually was comparable between those taking statins and those who were not.
She said: “This means that we now have really good evidence that although these things may well happen to people while they take statins, statins are not the cause of these problems.”
Prof Sir Rory Collins, emeritus professor of medicine and epidemiology at Oxford and a senior author, said: “Now that we know that statins do not cause the majority of side-effects listed in package leaflets, statin information requires rapid revision to help patients and doctors make better-informed health decisions.”
Statins have been taken by hundreds of millions of people globally over three decades to manage high cholesterol
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GETTYProf Bryan Williams, chief scientific and medical officer at the British Heart Foundation, which part-funded the research, said: “Statins are life-saving drugs, which have been proven to protect against heart attacks and strokes.
“This evidence is a much-needed counter to the misinformation around statins and should help prevent unnecessary deaths from cardiovascular disease.”
Prof Victoria Tzortziou Brown, chair of the Royal College of GPs, said: “Those considering taking statins should be reassured by this comprehensive study, which shows that while statins, like any medication, have potential side-effects, the risk for most people is low.”
While statins offer genuine benefits for many patients, they may not suit everyone, and prescribing decisions should always involve discussions between GPs and patients about individual risks and benefits.