This is part one of a two part series discussing statins and their value versus cost.
I found a few important quotes:
And if the key to statins is that they reduce inflammation, it’s worth keeping in mind that this is what other effective heart treatments like aspirin and the omega three fatty acids found in fish oils, garlic and Vitamin E do—at a much lower cost and with far fewer side effects.
and
Indeed, the National Institutes of Health later admitted that eight of the nine experts on the panel had received financing from one or more of the companies that make statins. (None of the panelists had publicly disclosed their ties to manufacturers when they made their recommendations.)
The possible benefits?
What about middle-aged people who are not diabetic and have not had a heart attack? A 2006 study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine that focused on seven trials involving nearly 43,000 middle-aged adults concluded that statin use did not cut their chances of dying from heart disease.
…
Finally, “there is no evidence of any benefit for women who don’t already have heart disease or diabetes,†says Abramson.
As with any drug, there are possible side effects:
“We have some compelling cases,” Dr. Beatrice Golomb, the study’s lead researcher, told the Wall Street Journal. “In one of them, a San Diego woman, Jane Brunzie, was so forgetful that her daughter was investigating Alzheimer’s care for her and refused to let her baby-sit for her 9-year-old granddaughter. Then the mother stopped taking a statin. ‘Literally, within eight days, I was back to normal — it was that dramatic,’ said Mrs. Brunzie, 69 years old.â€
Do you know anyone who seems to have Alzheimer’s and is on a statin?
The author promises to continue the series. It is based upon a recent report from Business week. You really should read the whole thing, here.
The follow-up is here.