Study: Long-Term Statin Use Could Increase Risk of Diabetic Complications
Long-term use of statin therapy increases the risk for diabetic complications in patients with diabetic nephropathy, according to the results of a new study from Saudi Arabia.
For their study, the researchers retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 625 patients (190 of which took statins and 435 who did not) with type 2 diabetic nephropathy who were treated at the Security Forces Hospital in Riyahd, Saudi Arabia, between January 1989 and January 2006.
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Note: Patients taking statins had a mean BMI of 29.5 ±4.711 and mean duration of diabetes of 16.6 ±7.1 years, while those not taking statins had a mean BMI of 28.4±4.6 and mean duration of diabetes of 15.02±7.3 years.
After analyzing the data, the researchers found that long-term statin use increased the incidence of 4 diabetic complications: myocardial infarction, cardiovascular accident, background retinopathy, and cataracts.
Specifically, of the 190 patients on statin therapy, 46% reported cataracts, 30% reported background retinopathy, 31% had a heart attack, and 23% had a stroke, whereas 37% of nonstatin users reported cataracts, 20% reported background retinopathy, 22% had a heart attack, and 15% had a stroke.
“[The] present study reveals that long-term use of statin [therapy] was associated with an increased incidence of diabetic complications in diabetic nephropathy patients,” the researchers concluded. “Further prospective randomized controlled trials are desired to see the long-term outcome of statin therapy.”
—Amanda Balbi
Reference:
Al Wakeel J, Hammad D. Statin therapy and incidence of diabetic complications. Paper presented at: National Kidney Foundation 2016 Spring Clinical Meetings; April 27-30, 2016; Boston, MA. http://ww3.aievolution.com/nkf1601/index.cfm?do=abs.viewAbs&src=ext&abs=1008. Accessed May 4, 2016.