Non-atheroprotective effects of statins: a systematic review.
Since the introduction of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) for lowering lipids, a large amount of data has been published demonstrating their potential benefits in conditions as varied as cancer, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer's dementia. We reviewed the published literature on MEDLINE from articles between 1950 and 2008 on the non-atheroprotective effects of statins and noted consistent benefits of statin use in improving outcomes of ventricular arrhythmias, sudden cardiac death, cardiac transplant rejection, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and sepsis. However, for these conditions, the level of evidence was inadequate to recommend statin use. The evidence for improving outcomes in atrial fibrillation, mortality in heart failure, contrast-induced nephropathy, cataract, age-related macular degeneration, sub-arachnoid hemorrhage, osteoporosis, dementia, and cancer incidence was conflicting and inconclusive. Furthermore, we found that most of the literature consists of small observational studies and their conclusions are often not corroborated by results from larger or randomized studies. Pending large, well designed, randomized trials, we conclude that there is no definite evidence for the use of statins in any condition besides hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis.
Beri
Abhimanyu
A
Department of Internal Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA. abhiberi@gmail.com
Sural
Neethi
N
Mahajan
Snigdha B
SB
D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000188:drug therapy; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000517:prevention & control; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D018805:Sepsis / Q000188:drug therapy
D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors