Study Links Risk of Diabetes and Crestor, Lipitor, Other Statins

Older women taking drugs like Crestor, Lipitor and other statin medications to control their cholesterol may face a 50% increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to the findings of a new study. 

U.S. researchers conducted a study on the entire class of cholesterol medications, known as statins, which have been shown to be effective at preventing heart attacks. The findings, which were published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, seem to back up previous research that suggests there is a link between statins and diabetes.

Researchers looked at data on more than 160,000 women who participated in the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) between the ages of 50 and 79 from 1993 through 2005. They found that 9.9% of women who took statins developed type 2 diabetes within nine years of taking the drugs, compared to only 6.4% of women who did not take statins, but still developed diabetes. The researchers adjusted for other health factors that could cause diabetes, such as obesity and age group.

Did You Know?

Ticketmaster Data Breach Impacts Millions of Customers

A massive Ticketmaster data breach exposed the names, addresses, phone numbers, credit card numbers and other personal information of more than 560 million customers, which have now been released on the dark web. Lawsuits are being pursued to obtain financial compensation.

According to the study, the increased risk could be an effect of the entire statin class and researchers called for further studies of specific doses by statin type.

Researchers indicated that the overall diabetes risk was too small to outweigh the heart attack prevention benefits of lowered cholesterol in some patients. They recommended that doctors take care that the drugs are only prescribed to those who need them.

Statins are among the best-selling drugs in the United States, with $14.5 billion in combined sales in 2008. They use the liver to block the body’s creation of cholesterol, which is a key contributor to coronary artery disease.

In June, a study by European researchers found that patients given high doses of statins were more likely to develop diabetes than those given low doses, but determined that the cholesterol-lowering benefits outweighed the diabetes risk.

That study was a follow-up to a previous meta-analysis published in February 2010 in the Lancet by the same researchers. That report indicated there was about a 9% increase in the risk of type 2 diabetes among those who use statins.

Another study published in March in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that some statins could increase the risk of diabetes by as much as one-third.

1 Comments

  • h danielJanuary 18, 2012 at 11:26 pm

    is it possible to get the raw data from the Lancet or other clinincal studies linking statins with type-2 diabetes? As a along time researcher I am interested in these data for personal reasons. I would of course agree to any provisions to hold the data condfidential.

Share Your Comments

I authorize the above comments be posted on this page*

Want your comments reviewed by a lawyer?

To have an attorney review your comments and contact you about a potential case, provide your contact information below. This will not be published.

NOTE: Providing information for review by an attorney does not form an attorney-client relationship.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

More Top Stories

Zimmer Biomet CPT Hip System Linked to Increased Risk of Thigh Bone Fractures, FDA Warns
Zimmer Biomet CPT Hip System Linked to Increased Risk of Thigh Bone Fractures, FDA Warns (Posted today)

The FDA has issued a safety communication warning that Zimmer Biomet CPT hip system femoral stems may increase the risk of femur fractures, calling for doctors to avoid its use when possible.

Change Healthcare Data Breach Lawyers Meeting Today With MDL Judge For Initial Status Conference
Change Healthcare Data Breach Lawyers Meeting Today With MDL Judge For Initial Status Conference (Posted yesterday)

The judge presiding over all Change Healthcare lawsuits filed in federal court is holding the first status conference of the litigation, which is expected to grow significantly as Change Healthcare data breach letters continue to be sent to impacted customers.

Angiodynamics LifePort Lawsuit Filed Over Risk of the Port Catheters Failing, Causing Severe Injury
Angiodynamics LifePort Lawsuit Filed Over Risk of the Port Catheters Failing, Causing Severe Injury (Posted 2 days ago)

Complaint comes as a panel of federal judges are scheduled to hear oral arguments later this month, to determine whether all AngioDynamics port catheter lawsuits filed in U.S. District Courts nationwide should be centralized before one judge.