Rosuvastatin is a commonly prescribed medication used to lower high cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease.
It belongs to a group of drugs known as statins, which are widely used around the world to help manage cholesterol levels.
Rosuvastatin, also known by the brand name Crestor, is considered effective and is often chosen for patients who need strong cholesterol-lowering treatment.
However, a recent study from researchers at Johns Hopkins University has raised new concerns about the safety of rosuvastatin, especially when it is taken in higher doses. The study suggests that this drug may increase the risk of kidney damage in some people.
When rosuvastatin was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there were already some signs that it might affect the kidneys.
Reports mentioned issues like hematuria, which is blood in the urine, and proteinuria, which means there is too much protein in the urine. These are both signs that the kidneys may not be working properly. But until now, there has been little research following up on those early warnings.
To get a better understanding of the issue, the Johns Hopkins research team studied a large group of patients by analyzing electronic health records collected between 2011 and 2019.
They looked at over 150,000 people who started taking rosuvastatin and compared them with nearly 800,000 people who began taking another statin called atorvastatin, which is also used to treat high cholesterol.
Over a period of three years, the researchers observed how often kidney-related problems occurred in both groups. They found that among people taking rosuvastatin, 2.9% developed hematuria and 1.0% developed proteinuria.
When compared with those taking atorvastatin, people on rosuvastatin had an 8% higher risk of developing hematuria, a 17% higher risk of proteinuria, and a 15% higher chance of experiencing serious kidney problems that could lead to dialysis or the need for a kidney transplant.
The risk was even greater for people who were taking higher doses of rosuvastatin. This is especially concerning for those with advanced kidney disease. In fact, the study found that 44% of people with serious kidney problems had been prescribed rosuvastatin at a dose higher than what the FDA recommends for patients with poor kidney function.
This means that many patients who were already at risk may have been exposed to even more danger by taking a stronger dose than they should have.
The researchers concluded that rosuvastatin is clearly linked to a greater risk of kidney issues, especially when compared to atorvastatin. Both drugs provide similar benefits for heart health, but rosuvastatin appears to carry extra risks for the kidneys.
This raises questions about whether rosuvastatin is the right choice, especially for people who already have kidney disease or other risk factors.
The study was led by Dr. Jung-im Shin and was published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. It sends a strong message to doctors and patients about the importance of choosing the right dose of rosuvastatin and considering other options when kidney health is a concern.
Overall, while rosuvastatin can help many people lower their cholesterol and protect their hearts, this new research shows that it may not be the safest choice for everyone. People taking this medication—especially those with kidney problems—should speak with their doctor to make sure their treatment is both effective and safe.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about how eating eggs can help reduce heart disease risk, and Vitamin K2 could help reduce heart disease risk.
For more information about heart health, please see recent studies about how to remove plaques that cause heart attacks, and results showing a new way to prevent heart attacks, strokes.
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