63.5% of patients report experiencing side-effects due to statins

This study was published in the Eastern Mediterranean health Journal 2011 May;17(5):460-4.

Study title and authors:
Patients' report of statins use and side-effects in a sample of hospitalized cardiac patients in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Mashayekhi SO, Ghandforoush-Sattari M, Baghdadchi ME, Kheyri M.
National Public Health Management Centre, Clinical Pharmacy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Islamic Republic of Iran. mashayekhis@yahoo.co.uk

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21796961

The aim of the study was to ascertain the prevalence of the side-effects of statins among patients admitted to a cardiac-specialized hospital who had taken statins prior to hospitalization. Data was collected on 200 patients, average age 61.5 years.

The study found:
(a) 63.5% of patients reported experiencing side-effects due to statins.
(b) The side-effects included:
(bi) Gastrointestinal 18.5%
(bii) Headache 16.5%
(biii) Eleveated transaminase levels 12.5% (elevated transaminase levels indicate liver damage).
(biv) Muscle problems 9.5%
(bv) Alergic reactions 5%
(bvi) Respiratory problems 4%
(bvii) Rash 0.5%
(c) Muscle pain was observed in 100% of patients receiving 80 mg per day of atrovastatin.

Mashayekhi concludes that: "Clinicians should be aware of the adverse effects of statins".

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