Statin users have an increased risk of cataract

This study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Ophthalmology 2013 Sep 19

Study title and authors:
Association of Statin Use With Cataracts: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.

Leuschen J, Mortensen EM, Frei CR, Mansi EA, Panday V, Mansi I.
Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgery Center, San Antonio, Texas2San Antonio Military Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24052188

The objective of the study was to compare the risks for development of cataracts between statin users and nonusers. The study included 6,972 statin users who were compared with 6,972 nonusers.

The study found:
(a) The risk for cataract was 9% higher among statin users in comparison with nonusers.
(b) In patients with no comorbidities according to the Charlson Comorbidity Index, (the Charlson comorbidity index predicts the ten-year mortality for a patient who may have a range of comorbid conditions, such as heart disease, AIDS, or cancer a total of 22 conditions), the risk for cataract was 27% higher among statin users in comparison with nonusers.

Leuschen concludes: "The risk for cataract is increased among statin users as compared with nonusers".

Statin users have a 26% increased risk of liver function test abnormalities

This study was published in Pharmacotherapy 2004 May;24(5):584-91

 

Study title and authors:

Statins and liver toxicity: a meta-analysis.

de Denus S, Spinler SA, Miller K, Peterson AM.

Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, PA 19103-4495, USA.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15162892

Liver function tests measure various chemicals in the blood made by the liver. An abnormal result indicates the presence of liver disease.

The objective of the study was to assess the risk of liver function test abnormalities with the use of statins. The study was a meta-analysis of 13 randomized, placebo-controlled trials of statins including 49,275 patients.

The study found that statin users had a 26% increased risk of liver function test abnormalities compared to non users.

Statins increase the risk of delirium by 52% after cardiac operations

This study was published in the Annals of Thoracic Surgery 2012 May;93(5):1439-47

Study title and authors:
Preoperative statin therapy is not associated with a decrease in the incidence of delirium after cardiac operations.

Mariscalco G, Cottini M, Zanobini M, Salis S, Dominici C, Banach M, Onorati F, Piffaretti G, Covaia G, Realini M, Beghi C.
Department of Surgical and Morphological Sciences, Cardiac Surgery Unit, Varese University Hospital, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy. giovannimariscalco@yahoo.it

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22541176

This study investigated the association between preoperative statins with the incidence of postoperative delirium in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. The study included 1,577 patients receiving preoperative statins who were matched with a control group of 1,577 not receiving statins.

The study found patients receiving preoperative statins had a 52% increased risk of postoperative delirium compared to patients not taking statins.