Increase in Diabetes Risk Linked to High-Dose Statins

The drugs you take to help protect against a heart attack may raise your risk for type 2 diabetes, researchers say.

According to a recent analysis of several studies, people taking high doses of drugs like Zocor and Lipitor had a 12 percent higher risk of developing diabetes. But the review also showed a lower incidence of heart attack, stroke, and death, meaning the balance remains tipped in favor of taking statins to protect your heart.

"Patients should get annual checks of blood sugars and, if elevated, be treated appropriately," says study senior author Kausik K. Ray, M.D., at St. George's University of London. Of the drugs tested, the net benefit was better with high doses of Lipitor, versus high doses of Zocor, he says.

How statins work

Statins are a class of drugs that lower cholesterol by moderating its production in the liver. Excess cholesterol in the blood is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Statins have been used for more than two decades to help people with high cholesterol reduce their risk for heart attack and stroke.

According to Dr. Ray, only about 20 percent of people who take statins are on high doses; about 80 percent take low to moderate doses. Although people taking high doses (80 mg) of one of these drugs had a higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes, those on moderate or low doses were able to reduce their risk for heart attack and stroke by 16 percent.

That translates to one new case of diabetes for every 500 people treated for one year with a high-dose statin, compared with one fewer person having a stroke or heart attack for every 155 people treated for one year.

Weighing the benefits

"The benefit with respect to heart protection still favors high-dose statins because those taking high doses of statins often have heart disease, so are at very high risk of further events," adds Dr. Ray.

The researchers note that further study is needed to determine the biological mechanisms that may be behind the effect.

Always talk with your health care provider to find out more information.