title: Statin therapy and the risk for diabetes among adult women: do the benefits outweigh the risk?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this review was to examine statin therapy and the risk for diabetes among adult women using a selective review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The literature contains reports of new-onset diabetes associated with statin use. While many studies do not report sex-specific results, there is evidence indicating the risk to benefit ratio may vary by gender. However, the absolute effects are not clear because women have historically been under-represented in clinical trials.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A review of the literature indicates that the cardiovascular benefits of statins appear to outweigh the risk for statin-related diabetes. However, the effect may depend upon baseline diabetes risk, dose, and statin potency. Rigorous, long-term studies focused on the risks and benefits of statins in women are unavailable to sort for gender-specific differences. Until this changes, individualized attention to risk assessment, and strong prevention with lifestyle changes must prevail.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655, USA.
authors.forename: Yunsheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Annie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Culver
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rossouw
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Olendzki
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Merriam
authors.forename: Bill
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lian
authors.forename: Ira
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ockene
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D016387:Women's Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors