One third of all statin users report side effects

This study was published in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology 2012 May-Jun;6(3):208-15

 

Study title and authors:

Understanding Statin Use in America and Gaps in Patient Education (USAGE): an internet-based survey of 10,138 current and former statin users.

Cohen JD, Brinton EA, Ito MK, Jacobson TA.

St. Louis University School of Medicine, 8138 Westmoreland Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63105, USA. cohenjd@swbell.net

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22658145

This study assessed the effects of statins on current and former users. The study included 10,138 participants, average age 61 years.

The study found:
(a) 28% of current statin users reported side effects.
(b) 33% of all statin users reported side effects.
(c) 65% of former statin users reported side effects.
(d) 62% of former statin users stopped taking statins because of the side effects.