Search Tag: statins

Cardiology Management

Statins-linked-to-reduced-covid-19-severity-risk-of-death

2022 27 Oct

A new study of more than 38,000 patients suggests that statins may reduce the risk of death and severity of COVID-19.  According to Ettore Crimi, Professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine and lead author of the study, statins decrease inflammation which may help reduce the severity of COVID-19. The study also shows that regular statin...Read more

Cardiology Management

Statins-may-reduce-covid-19-severity

2021 20 Jul

Findings from a new study published in PLOS ONE show that patients taking statins had a 41% lower risk of in-hospital death from COVID-19.  Statins are used to reduce blood cholesterol levels by blocking liver enzymes responsible for making cholesterol. This category of drugs is widely prescribed worldwide. According to the CDC, 93% of patients who...Read more

Cardiology Management

Statins-reduce-risk-of-cancer-in-heart-failure-patients

2021 29 Jun

New findings published in the European Heart Journal report that statin use among patients with heart failure is associated with a 16% lower risk of developing cancer compared with non-statin users. Findings also show that statin use was associated with a 26% reduced risk of dying from cancer. There is sufficient clinical evidence to show that...Read more

Cardiology Management

Odyssey-outcomes-trial-does-reduction-of-lipoprotein-reduce-cardiovascular-risk

2020 27 Jan

Lipoprotein is believed to possess pro-atherogenic, pro-thrombotic, pro-inflammatory, and pro-oxidative properties. High levels of lipoprotein have been associated with incident cardiovascular disease in population-based epidemiological analysis and in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). There is also a linear relationship between lipoprotein...Read more

Cardiology Management

Top-heart-disease-stroke-research-advances-in-2019

2020 15 Jan

Cardiovascular disease continues to be the leading cause of death worldwide. Over the years, scientific research and technological advancements in heart disease and stroke science have had a positive impact on the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease.  Here is a quick overview of the biggest scientific victories achieved in 2019, as...Read more

Cardiology Management

Encourage-trial-simple-nudges-improve-statin-prescription-adherence

2019 23 Nov

Statins are an effective medication for treating patients with heart disease. They cut the risk of a second major adverse cardiac event by almost 50$. But only about 6% of patients take statins as prescribed. One way to solve that? Nudge them. Literally. In a new study presented to heart specialists from around the world, researchers at the Intermountain...Read more

Cardiology Management

Statins-in-children-with-familial-hypercholesterolaemia

2019 21 Oct

Familial hypercholesterolaemia is typically characterised by severely elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels and premature cardiovascular disease. While the short-term efficacy of statin therapy in children is well established, there is still a lack of longer follow-up studies to evaluate specific changes in the risk of cardiovascular...Read more

Executive Health Management

New-management-pathways-in-cardiovascular-risk-factors

2019 02 Oct

Summary: A presentation of a case study in light of the updated ESC guidelines on lipid control and new guidelines on diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Several new guidelines were released at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress in Paris, France. These included updated guidelines on lipid control and new guidelines...Read more

Cardiology Management

Pharmacy-closures-cause-decline-in-cardiovascular-medication-adherence

2019 25 Apr

Nonadherence to cardiovascular prescription medications is observed in nearly 50% of patients. Despite efforts to improve the affordability of these drugs among older adults, the problem of nonadherence still persists.  Several factors contribute to this nonadherence including the cost of drugs as well as pharmacy accessibility.  Geographical...Read more

Cardiology Management

Why-patients-don-t-take-statins-as-prescribed

2019 04 Apr

According to new research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, many patients who could benefit from statins do not take them.  Statins lower the amount of LDL and have been proven to lower the risk of heart attack and stroke. The American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology recommend the use of an atherosclerotic...Read more

Cardiology Management

Low-statin-adherence-increases-mortality-in-patients-with-ascvd

2019 20 Feb

Using a national sample of U.S. Veterans Affairs patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), a JAMA study found that a low adherence to statin therapy was associated with a greater risk of dying. Women, minorities, younger adults, and older adults were less likely to adhere to statins. These findings underscore the importance of finding...Read more

Cardiology Management

Benefits-of-statins-in-the-elderly

2019 07 Feb

According to data from 27 randomised trials in the Cholesterol Treatment Trialists' (CTT) Collaboration database, each 1.0 mmol/L reduction in LDL cholesterol with statin therapy reduces the risk of major vascular events by about a fifth. This risk reduction was observed with similar proportions in men and women.  However, rates of use of...Read more

Cardiology Management

Are-we-underestimating-the-risks-of-statins

2018 12 Dec

According to a new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the 10-year risk thresholds that are used in guidelines to prescribe statins for the prevention of heart disease could be too low.  The study authors argue that while current guidelines consider the benefits of statins, they fail to take into account the potential risks...Read more

Cardiology Management

Practical-hints-on-dealing-with-statin-intolerance

2018 08 May

Statin intolerance is a worldwide problem concerning the inability to tolerate a dose of statin required to sufficiently reduce cardiovascular (CV) risk. However, it is worth emphasising that with the five-step approach (four-diagnostic steps + therapy), more than 90 percent of these patients might be treated with statins, according to an article published...Read more

Cardiology Management

Continued-statin-use-linked-to-lower-death-risk

2017 25 Jul

A Brigham and Women's Hospital-led study published in Annals of Internal Medicine highlights the benefits of prolonged statin use. Researchers found that patients who continued receiving statins after experiencing an adverse reaction – e.g., muscle aches and pains or gastrointestinal symptoms – had lower rates of death and cardiovascular events. Among...Read more

Cardiology Management

Statins-improve-heart-structure-and-function

2017 29 May

According to research presented at EuroCMR 2017, statins improve heart structure and function. The benefits of the drugs are thus above and beyond cholesterol management. Lead author Dr Nay Aung, a cardiologist and Wellcome Trust research fellow, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, UK explains that while statins are...Read more

Cardiology Management

Statins-in-older-adults-primary-cardiovascular-prevention

2017 23 May

New research shows there was no benefit of a statin for all-cause mortality or coronary heart disease events when a statin was started for primary prevention in older adults with hypertension and moderately high cholesterol. The study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, analysed data from older adults in the Lipid-Lowering Trial (LLT) component of...Read more

Cardiology Management

Statins-muscle-related-side-effects-or-nocebo-effect

2017 04 May

According to a new study, muscle-related symptoms are less commonly reported when patients and doctors are unaware that statin therapy is being used as compared to when these patients and doctors are aware. The findings are published in The Lancet. See Also : Low Adherence to Statins Following Heart Attack The study evaluated data on 26 side...Read more

Cardiology Management

Low-adherence-to-statins-following-heart-attack

2017 19 Apr

According to a study published by JAMA Cardiology, a large proportion of patients who were prescribed high-intensity statins following hospitalisation for a heart attack did not adhere to their prescribed medication at two years after discharge. See Also : Statin Dose, Timing May Improve Heart Surgery Outcomes The study was conducted with Medicare...Read more

Cardiology Management

Study-low-statin-use-in-patients-with-high-ldc-c-levels

2017 09 Jan

Treatment with statins is recommended for all adults 21 years or older with an elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level of 190 mg/dL or greater. However, a new study published in JAMA Cardiology shows low statin prescription rates even for patients in their 30s and 40s who have severe elevations in LDL-C levels. See Also...Read more

Cardiology Management

Pcsk9-and-hmgcr-genetic-variants-affect-cardiovascular-disease-risk

2016 06 Dec

Variants in the genes encoding HMGCR (the target of statins) and PCSK9 (the target of PCSK9 inhibitors) that lowered LDL, or "bad" cholesterol, in each gene were associated with nearly identical protective effects on the risk of cardiovascular events per unit reduction in LDL cholesterol, according to new research published in The New England Journal...Read more

Cardiology Management

Statins-combined-with-stroke-prevention-drug-increase-risk-of-haemorrhage

2016 22 Nov

According to a study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), two commonly used statins can increase the risk of haemorrhage when combined with dabigatran etexilate, a stroke prevention drug  used in patients with atrial fibrillation. See Also : Statins and Drug-Drug Interactions: AHA Scientific Statement A possible...Read more

Cardiology Management

Statins-before-cardiac-arrest-improve-survival-odds-afterwards

2016 14 Nov

According to a study presented at the Resuscitation Science Symposium at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2016 , patients who have been taking statins have better chances of surviving longer after a cardiac arrest.   See Also : High-Intensity Statin Therapy Linked to Lower Risk of Death Cholesterol-lowering...Read more

Cardiology Management

High-intensity-statin-therapy-linked-to-lower-risk-of-death

2016 12 Nov

A large, cohort study published in JAMA Cardiology demonstrates that there is an inverse association between intensity of statin therapy and mortality risk in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). See Also : Statin vs Nonstatin Therapies for Lowering LDL-C Statin therapy remains...Read more

Cardiology Management

Statins-aspirin-reduce-heart-attack-severity

2016 20 Sep

According to new research, medications prescribed for prevention of heart attacks such as statins and aspirin can also reduce the severity of heart attacks. The research is published in PLOS ONE and findings will be presented at the 27th Great Wall International Congress of Cardiology (GW-ICC). The study was conducted with 14,790 patients hospitalised...Read more

Cardiology Management

Statins-before-heart-surgery-reduce-complications

2016 12 Jan

A review article to be published in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery suggests the use of statins before and after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. The drugs are believed to reduce cardiac complications, such as atrial fibrillation, following surgery as well as the risk of death during and after surgery. Some of the key points of the...Read more

Cardiology Management

Negative-statin-stories-impact-patients

2015 06 Dec

According to a study published in the European Heart Journal , negative news stories about statins result in some people choosing to discontinue their statin treatment which in turn increases their risk of heart attacks and dying from heart disease.  The research was conducted by researchers in Denmark and included 674,900 people aged 40 and older...Read more

Cardiology Management

Poor-levels-of-availability-affordability-use-of-vital-heart-medicines

2015 27 Oct

According to research published in The Lancet, the use of vital life-saving generic medicines for the prevention of heart disease is poor worldwide. In low-income and middle-income countries, these medicines are either not easily available or if they are, they are often unaffordable. In rich countries, availability and affordability is not usually...Read more

Cardiology Management

Elderly-have-highest-rate-of-statin-use

2015 24 Aug

According to new research published by JAMA Internal Medicine , the use of statins for primary prevention in patients without vascular disease between 1999 and 2012 significantly increased among the elderly despite the fact that there is no evidence to recommend the use of these drugs in this particular patient segment.  The study was conducted by...Read more

Cardiology Management

Statins-a-double-edged-sword

2015 17 Aug

A new study published in the American Journal of Physiology - Cell Physiology talks about how statins are beneficial in some cases but highlights the importance of weighing individual risk before using statins as preventive therapy.  Statins have proven to be quite effective in reducing atherosclerosis-related events and some researchers have gone...Read more