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Non-Atheroprotective Effects of Statins

A Systematic Review

  • Review Article
  • Published:
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Abstract

Since the introduction of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) for lowering lipids, a large amount of data has been published demonstrating their potential benefits in conditions as varied as cancer, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer’s dementia. We reviewed the published literature on MEDLINE from articles between 1950 and 2008 on the non-atheroprotective effects of statins and noted consistent benefits of statin use in improving outcomes of ventricular arrhythmias, sudden cardiac death, cardiac transplant rejection, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and sepsis. However, for these conditions, the level of evidence was inadequate to recommend statin use. The evidence for improving outcomes in atrial fibrillation, mortality in heart failure, contrast-induced nephropathy, cataract, age-related macular degeneration, sub-arachnoid hemorrhage, osteoporosis, dementia, and cancer incidence was conflicting and inconclusive. Furthermore, we found that most of the literature consists of small observational studies and their conclusions are often not corroborated by results from larger or randomized studies. Pending large, well designed, randomized trials, we conclude that there is no definite evidence for the use of statins in any condition besides hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis.

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Acknowledgments

No sources of funding were used to assist in the preparation of this review. The authors have no conflicts of interest that are directly relevant to the content of this review.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA

    Abhimanyu Beri & Neethi Sural

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, Guru Nanak Mission Hospital, Jalandhar, India

    Snigdha B. Mahajan

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  1. Abhimanyu Beri
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  3. Snigdha B. Mahajan
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Correspondence to Abhimanyu Beri.

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Beri, A., Sural, N. & Mahajan, S.B. Non-Atheroprotective Effects of Statins. Am J Cardiovasc Drugs 9, 361–370 (2009). https://doi.org/10.2165/11315710-000000000-00000

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