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New statin studies significantly increase the risk of diabetes in older women
There have been discussions for some time about the use of so-called statins and their alleged side effects. Researchers now found that statins used to lower cholesterol in older women significantly increase the risk of developing diabetes.
The researchers from the University of Queensland found in their study that statins in older women lead to an increased likelihood of developing diabetes. The physicians published the results of their study in the journal "Drugs and Aging".
How does taking statins in elderly women affect your diabetes risk? Physicians tried to clarify this question in a study exactly. (Image: roger ashford / fotolia.com) What are statins?
Statins are usually used in disorders of lipid metabolism as cholesterol-lowering. Of the lipid metabolism influencing agents have statins the highest potency, say the experts. Statins are also commonly referred to as so-called cholesterol synthesis enzyme inhibitors. Statins are said to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes.
Statin use leads to a 35 percent increased risk of diabetes in older women
The use of statins in women over the age of 75 leads to a 33 percent increase in the likelihood of developing diabetes, explains author Dr. med. Mark Jones of the School of Public Health at the University of Queensland in a press release from the University. The risk even increased to more than 50 percent if the older women received higher doses of the drug.
So far, there have been few clinical studies on the use of statins in older women
We found that nearly 50 percent of the study participants took statins in their late seventies and eighties, and 5 percent of those participants were diagnosed with newly-diagnosed diabetes. Jones. Statins are widely prescribed in this age group, but there are few clinical studies looking at the possible negative effects on older women. The vast majority of research is done on 40 to 70 year old men, explains the expert.
Statins improve survival in cardiovascular disease?
There have been recent independent studies that said that increased doses of statins improve survival in cardiovascular disease. However, given the new findings from the current study, older women should be more cautious about taking increased doses of these drugs.
There seems to be a correlation between dosage and diabetes risk
Most amazingly, we found a so-called dose effect that causes the risk of diabetes to increase as the dosage of statins is increased, explains author D. Jones of the University of Queensland.
Women often go over to higher dosages over time
During the ten-year study, most of the participating women turned to higher doses of statins, the researchers report. Physicians and elderly female patients should be aware of the dangers of statins, the researchers explain.
Check blood glucose value regularly
Older women taking statins should be monitored carefully and regularly for elevated levels of blood glucose. Only in this way can the early detection and treatment of diabetes be guaranteed, the researchers say.
Physicians analyzed the data of 8,372 women
The current research is based on recipes and survey data of a total of 8,372 women born between 1921 and 1926. These women have been regularly studied as part of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health. (As)