Statins Rarely Cause Severe Muscle Problems, Researchers Say

A large new study found that people taking statins are unlikely to develop serious muscle problems. Sol de Zuasnabar Brebbia/Getty Images New research reports that serious muscular disorders are rare for people who take statins to help lower cholesterol levels. Researchers say their findings are important because many people avoid taking statins out of fear of side effects like muscle aches. Experts say statins are an effective tool in lowering the risks of heart disease and stroke. The risk of serious muscle issues for people who take statins is extremely low, according to a large study. Researchers said less than 1% of people who took the commonly prescribed cholesterol-lowering medication in a study had a 10-year risk of statin-related serious muscular disorders higher than 10%. The results of the study were published on June 25 in The Lancet Digital Health. The findings follow a February study that concluded that the risks of serious side effects from statins are low. Studies dispelling concerns over statin use are noteworthy considering that statins can help lower cholesterol levels by as much as 60%, and consequently reduce the risk of heart disease. Despite this, past research shows that less than half of the 50 million people in the United States who might benefit from statins actually take them. In addition, it’s estimated that as many as one-third of people prescribed statins never fill that prescription. The authors of the new study say that “widespread and often misattributed concerns” about statin side effects have led to “low statin uptake and poor adherence in individuals eligible for treatment, consequently leading to increased [cardiovascular disease] and related deaths.” “Clinical treatment decision making can be better informed by personalized risk information about treatment outcomes, including both benefits and harms,” the authors wrote. Yu-Ming Ni, MD, a cardiologist and lipidologist at MemorialCare Heart and Vascular Institute at Orange Coast