Study Examines Link between Statins and Microvascular Disease

Copenhagen, DenmarkStudies into Crestor side effects and the side effects of other statin medications have resulted in concerns that statin medications may be linked to an increased risk of diabetes. Two recently published studies seem to confirm a potential link between the use of statins and the development of diabetes. One study, however, suggests that the use of statins may lessen the complications associated with diabetes when patients take a statin such as Crestor.

The study was published in The Lancet (9/10/14) and conducted by researchers in Denmark. They examined whether statins were linked to an increased risk of microvascular disease. Microvascular diseases - such as diabetic retinopathy, diabetic neuropathy and diabetic nephropathy - are linked to diabetes.

Researchers examined information from patients who used statins regularly until they were diagnosed with diabetes and those who had never used statins before being diagnosed. They found that patients who used statins prior to diagnosis had lower incidents of diabetic retinopathy, diabetic neuropathy and gangrene of the foot. The rate of diabetic neuropathy was not lower in statin users.

Although researchers did not find a higher incidence of microvascular disease in patients who used statins, they noted that they could not address whether the statins were actually protective against the diseases. Researchers recommended more studies needed to be done to address that possibility.

Two other studies, also published recently, do not examine the risk of microvascular diseases but do explore the link between statins and diabetes. One such study published in BMJ (4/25/14) suggests that higher-potency statins are associated with an increased risk of new-onset diabetes as compared with lower-potency statins.

A different study published in Diabetes Care (6/26/14) found that patients who stuck to their statin therapy treatment had a higher risk of being diagnosed with new-onset diabetes than patients who had a low adherence to their statin therapy. Researchers did note, however, that the benefits associated with statin use “clearly overwhelm the diabetes risk.”

A study published in BMJ (12/17/13), however, suggested that many patients would obtain similarly beneficial results by eating an apple a day as opposed to taking a statin a day. Researchers noted that the patients eating an apple a day would not only see similar benefits but would not be exposed to an increased risk of some side effects.

Lawsuits have been filed against the makers of statin drugs alleging that patients were exposed to an increased risk of developing diabetes without being properly warned about that risk. Statins have also been linked to an increased risk of muscle toxicity (myopathy/rhabdomyolysis).