Statin therapy leads to worsening of left ventricular diastolic function in 71% of patients

This study was published in the American Journal of Cardiology2004 Nov 15;94(10):1306-10

Study title and authors:

Effect of atorvastatin on left ventricular diastolic function and ability of coenzyme Q10 to reverse that dysfunction.

Silver MA, Langsjoen PH, Szabo S, Patil H, Zelinger A.

Heart Failure Institute, Department of Medicine, Advocate Christ Medical Center, University of Illinois/Christ Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Program, Oak Lawn, Illinois 60453, USA. marc.silver@advocatehealth.com

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15541254

This study evaluated left ventricular diastolic function before and after statin therapy. Impaired left ventricular diastolic function plays an important role in increasing the risk of congestive heart failure. Three diastolic function markers (E/A ratio, deceleration time, and isovolumetric relaxation time) were measured in 14 patients aged 51 to 79 years who completed three to six months of statin therapy. Worsening diastolic function was defined as a 10% decrease in the E/A ratio, a 10% increase in deceleration time, or a 10% increase in the isovolumetric relaxation time.

 

The study found that 71% of the patients had worsening of at least one marker of left ventricular diastolic function.

Silver concludes: "For more than a decade, there has been a suggestion of impairment of diastolic function after the administration of statins and our findings suggest that this may be a common event and potentially a precursor to symptoms associated with ventricular dysfunction".

 

 

Links to other studies:

Statin treatment may lead to heart failure

Statins And Cancer: Cause For Concern

Statins put patients at risk from depression and chronic fatigue syndrome

Statins do not prevent cardiovascular and all-cause deaths

This paper was published in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology Volume 7, Issue 3 , Pages 222-224, May 2013
 
Study title and authors:
Point: Why statins have failed to reduce mortality in just about anybody
Eddie Vos, Colin P. Rose, Pierre Biron
127 Courser Road, Sutton, QC, Canada J0E 2K0

Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada H3H 1V6

 

This paper can be accessed at: http://www.lipidjournal.com/article/S1933-2874(13)00052-4/abstract

 

This paper reviewed the scientific evidence regarding statins and death rates.

 

(i) In JUPITER (Justification for the Use of Statins in Primary Prevention: An Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin trial), a trial involving 17,802 participants randomised to rosuvastatin or placebo found for all participants the cardiovascular mortality was not reduced.

(ii) All published trials with placebo controls conclusively establish that statins do not reduce mortality in women.

(iii) There are no mortality figures suggesting a positive effect for people taking statins for more than five or six years.

(iv) In the PROSPER (PROspective Study of Pravastatin in the Elderly at Risk) study, in patients older than 70 years of age, there appeared to be arising increased rate of cancer, which may indicate that longer intervals of statin therapy may have other costs in the elderly.

(v) For both genders, the lack of all-cause mortality benefit is also illustrated by all published studies using atorvastatin vs. placebo, including the summary of 49 in-house studies including 14,236 individual patients.

(vi) The secondary prevention study SPARCL (Stroke Prevention by Aggressive Reduction in Cholesterol Levels) ended with five more deaths on highdose atorvastatin than on placebo.

(vii) To date, there are no placebo-controlled studies showing a mortality benefit when patients used lovastatin, fluvastatin, cerivastatin, or pitavastatin.

(viii) No mortality benefit from statins has ever been shown in patients older than 70 years of age.

(ix) No mortality benefit from statins has ever been shown in patients with heart failure.

(x) No mortality benefit from statins has ever been shown in patients with kidney failure.

(xi) Patients believing consciously or subliminally that ‘‘their cholesterol is under control’’ because they take a statin may postpone embarking on lifestyle changes, such as stopping smoking and abandoning eating habits that produce obesity and diabetes.

(xii) There is evidence that statins themselves promote diabetes, a life-long health risk.

 

Vos advises: "Because the lack of circulating statins is not the cause of atherosclerosis and their benefit on mortality is highly questionable, we should concentrate on lifestyle changes. Exercise, no smoking, and a healthy diet are well demonstrated in population studies to reduce the high mortality seen in so many economically developed countries".

 

He concludes that statins: "do not prevent cardiovascular and all-cause deaths".

 



Doctor says that statins may be the cause of the current heart failure and atherosclerosis epidemic

This paper was published in Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology 2015 Feb 6:1-11

 

Study title and authors:

Statins stimulate atherosclerosis and heart failure: pharmacological mechanisms.

Okuyama H, Langsjoen PH, Hamazaki T, Ogushi Y, Hama R, Kobayashi T, Uchino H.

Nagoya City University and Institute for Consumer Science and Human Life, Kinjo Gakuin University, 2-1723 Omori, Moriyama, Nagoya 463-8521, Japan.

 

This paper can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25655639

Dr Harumi Okuyama and his team from the Nagoya City University in Japan discuss the mechanisms of how statins may cause atherosclerosis and heart failure.

Dr Okuyama states:
(i) In contrast to the current belief that cholesterol reduction with statins decreases atherosclerosis, we present a perspective that statins may be causative in coronary artery calcification and can function as mitochondrial toxins that impair muscle function in the heart and blood vessels through the depletion of coenzyme Q₁₀ and 'heme A', and thereby ATP generation.
(ii) Statins inhibit the synthesis of vitamin K_2. Vitamin K2 protects arteries from calcification.
(iii) Statins inhibit the biosynthesis of selenium containing proteins. An impairment of selenoprotein biosynthesis may be a factor in congestive heart failure.

Dr Okuyama concludes: "The epidemic of heart failure and atherosclerosis that plagues the modern world may paradoxically be aggravated by the pervasive use of statin drugs".

Links to other studies:
Statin treatment may lead to heart failure
Statin therapy leads to worsening of left ventricular diastolic function in 71% of patients
Statins should not be given to patients with heart failure

Low LDL cholesterol levels are associated with reduced survival in elderly patients with heart failure

This study was published in Cardiology 2014;127(1):45-50

Study title and authors:
Low levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol: a negative predictor of survival in elderly patients with advanced heart failure.

Charach G, Rabinovich A, Ori A, Weksler D, Sheps D, Charach L, Weintraub M, George J.
The Department of Internal Medicine 'C', Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Affiliated to the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24217704

This study aimed to examine the impact of statins and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels on survival rates in elderly patients with moderate and severe heart failure. The study included 212 patients, average age 77 years, who were followed for 3.7 years. The patients were divided into three groups according to LDL cholesterol levels:
(i) Group one had LDL cholesterol levels less than 90 mg/dL (2.32 mmol/l).
(ii) Group two had LDL cholesterol levels between 90-115 mg/dL (2.32-3.00 mmol/l).
(iii) Group three had LDL cholesterol levels above 115 mg/dL (3.00 mmol/l).

The study found:
(a) The total cholesterol levels of group one patients was 31% lower than group three patients.
(b) Group one patients were over twice as likely to be on statins than group three patients.
(c) Only 34% of group one patients survived longer than 50 months whereas 58% of group three patients survived longer than 50 months.

Charach concluded: "Low LDL cholesterol levels are associated with a reduced survival in elderly patients with clinically controlled moderate and severe heart failure. Statins were independently and significantly associated with a higher risk of mortality".

Statins should not be given to patients with heart failure

This study was published in the Lancet 2008 Oct 4;372(9645):1231-9

Study title and authors:

Effect of rosuvastatin in patients with chronic heart failure (the GISSI-HF trial): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Gissi-HF Investigators, Tavazzi L, Maggioni AP, Marchioli R, Barlera S, Franzosi MG, Latini R, Lucci D, Nicolosi GL, Porcu M, Tognoni G.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18757089?dopt=Abstract

The study investigated the effects of rosuvastatin in patients with heart failure. The study included 4,574 patients aged 18 years or older with chronic heart failure were assigned to either rosuvastatin 10 mg daily (2,285) or placebo (2,289) and followed up for 3.9 years.

The study found:
(a) Statin users had a 4% decreased risk of death from cardiovascular reasons compared to placebo.
(b) Statin users had a 12% increased risk of sudden cardiac death compared to placebo.
(c) Statin users had a 23% increased risk of fatal and non fatal stroke compared to placebo.
(d) Statin users had a 2.5% increased risk of death compared to placebo.

Tavazzi said: "In conclusion, results from the GISSI-HF trial might help physicians in taking the following decisions. First, not prescribing statins to patients with heart failure of non-ischaemic cause. Second, stopping statins in patients with heart failure of ischaemic cause".

A 10ml INCREASE in cholesterol levels are associated with a 4% DECREASED risk of mortality from heart failure

This post includes a summary of a study published in the American Heart Journal Volume 156, Issue 6, Pages 1170-1176 December 2008 and a recipe for spaghetti squash with turkey sauce.

Study title and authors:

Books:

Cholesterol levels and in-hospital mortality in patients with acute decompensated heart failure

Tamara B. Horwich, MD, MSa, Adrian F. Hernandez, MD, MHSb, David Dai, PhDb, Clyde W. Yancy, MDc, Gregg C. Fonarow, MDa, for the Get With the Guidelines Steering Committee and Hospitals

This paper can be accessed at: http://www.ahjonline.com/article/S0002-8703(08)00571-1/abstract

The study evaluated 17,791 patients hospitalised with heart failure. Their cholesterol levels were taken, and their progress was analysed, covering 2 years. 46% were on statins. Each 10ml INCREASE in cholesterol level was associated with a 4% DECREASED risk of in-hospital mortality from heart failure.

More information on this subject: Books : Scientific Studies : Other Websites : Videos : Food Mall 

Recipe of the day

Spaghetti Squash with Turkey Sauce

Ingredients:

For “spaghetti”:

Food Mall: Ground Turkey

• 1 spaghetti squash

• pinch of salt
 
For sauce:
• 1 lb of ground turkey
• 1 large can of tomato paste
• 2 cans of water
• 1 c mushrooms
• 1 clove of minced garlic
• 1-2 T oregano
• 1-2 T basil

Instructions:
In a large pan, heat oil and add onions, garlic and turkey. Cook until meat turns brown. Add remaining ingredients, bring to a simmer and cook for 35 minutes, stirring occasionally.

While the sauce is simmering, cut the spaghetti squash in half. Place cut side up, covered with plastic wrap in a microwave safe dish for 10 minutes. Remove from microwave, and let sit, covered, for at least 5 minutes.

To create the “spaghetti,” rake a fork over the spaghetti squash until you have essentially emptied the shell.

Heap spaghetti into a bowl and serve.