A large study has found that cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins can help people with type 2 diabetes live longer and avoid major heart problems—even if their risk of heart disease is low. This challenges the old belief that only high-risk patients should take statins.
The study was led by researchers from the University of Hong Kong and published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine. The team looked at health data from the United Kingdom, using a large database called the IQVIA Medical Research Data (IMRD-UK).
They focused on adults aged 25 to 84 who had type 2 diabetes but did not have serious heart or liver problems before the study started.
Type 2 diabetes is a long-term condition that affects how the body handles blood sugar. Over time, it can damage the heart, kidneys, eyes, and blood vessels. People with diabetes are more likely to have heart attacks or strokes, so doctors often try to lower these risks.
Statins are a group of medicines that lower cholesterol levels in the blood. Too much cholesterol can clog blood vessels and lead to heart disease.
For years, statins have been used to prevent heart attacks in people with high cholesterol or other heart problems. But there has been debate about whether people with diabetes who seem to have a low risk of heart disease really need to take them.
To answer this question, the researchers followed thousands of people with type 2 diabetes for up to 10 years. Some of them started taking statins, while others did not. They divided the participants into groups based on their predicted risk of heart disease over the next 10 years.
The results were clear: people who took statins were less likely to die from any cause and had fewer serious heart problems—such as heart attacks and strokes—no matter what their starting risk level was. Even people who were considered low-risk benefited from taking statins.
There was one group that showed a small increase in muscle problems, a condition known as myopathy, but this was not common. Importantly, the study found no increased risk of liver problems, which some people worry about when taking statins.
These findings are important because they suggest that statins may be helpful for more people with type 2 diabetes than previously thought.
The researchers believe doctors should consider prescribing statins to all adults with type 2 diabetes, even those who appear to have a low chance of heart problems in the short term.
The study also highlights the value of using real-world data to understand how treatments work in everyday life, not just in clinical trials. Since the research included a large number of people over a long period, the results are strong and reliable.
In summary, statins are not just for people who are already at high risk of heart disease. For people with type 2 diabetes, taking statins might be a good way to lower their chances of serious heart issues and live longer. While there are always risks with any medication, this study suggests the benefits outweigh the small risks for most patients.
If you care about diabetes, please read studies about diabetes and vitamin B12, and the right diet for people with type 2 diabetes.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how to eat smart with diabetes, and turmeric and vitamin D: a duo for blood pressure control in diabetic patients.
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