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Studies Do Statins Protect Women From Breast Cancer?
In a recent study, scientists found that the diagnosis of high cholesterol in women is associated with a significantly lower rate of breast cancer and improved life expectancy.
Aston University researchers found that elevated cholesterol levels in women reduce the risk of developing breast cancer. The doctors published a press release on the results of their study.
Breast cancer is a dangerous disease that costs many lives every year. Experts have now discovered that high cholesterol seems to protect against breast cancer. In a medical examination, the physicians then found that the observed protective effect was probably due to statins. (Image: Sven Bähren / fotolia.com) Statins lead to the protective effect of breast cancer?
We have previously found an association between high cholesterol and the development of breast carcinoma, the current study should examine this relationship more closely, the authors say. Patients with high cholesterol have a lower risk of developing breast cancer and subsequent mortality. The results are evidence of the protective effects of statins, the experts add.
Doctors are studying women over 40 years without a high cholesterol level
The current study examined women over the age of 40 years or older. The participants had no prior diagnosis of high cholesterol levels. The physicians studied the development of breast cancer and subsequent mortality. Analyzes were carried out to also adjust the demographic and clinical features among the participants.
High cholesterol can reduce the risk of breast cancer by up to 45 percent
Out of a total of 1,220,024 patients, 16,043 women had high cholesterol at the age of forty years or older. The data from these women were compared to an equivalent and age-matched group of patients without high cholesterol, the researchers explain. The physicians found that women with high cholesterol had a 45 percent lower risk of developing breast cancer compared to women without high cholesterol.
Effects of High Cholesterol on Breast Cancer Risk
After adjusting for various factors that may affect mortality, including age, gender and ethnicity, the experts found that patients developed 45 percent less breast cancer if they had high cholesterol. In addition, the risk of death from higher breast cancer levels was reduced by 40 percent, explain the authors of the study. If a diagnosis of high cholesterol leads to lower breast cancer rates, this could be due to treatment with widely used cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins), explains author Dr Rahul Potluri.
Statins protect against breast cancer
Our research confirms that women with a diagnosis of high cholesterol have a remarkably lower rate of breast cancer, explains author. Paul Carter. In previous animal studies, statins reduced the risk of breast cancer, suggesting that statins produce this protective effect in breast cancer, the expert adds. "The results of this study provide the strongest justification for a clinical trial evaluating the protective effects of statins in patients with breast cancer," explains Drs. Carter continues.
Which people should take statins?
Patients with breast cancer who have high cholesterol, people at high risk for cardiovascular disease, and those with established cardiovascular disease should receive statins according to current guidelines, experts say. (As)