Statins may help to reduce risk of death in all patients with type 2 diabetes.
In a new study, statins significantly lowered the odds of death and major heart events in adults with type 2 diabetes, regardless of their predicted 10-year risk for heart disease.
Researchers followed adults ages 25 to 84 with type 2 diabetes for up to a decade. None had serious heart or liver problems at the start.
The authors compared people who started statins with those who didn’t — across all levels of heart-disease risk – from less than 10% to more than 30%.
The results were consistent: statin use was linked to fewer deaths from any cause and fewer major cardiovascular events — even among patients labeled “low risk.”
The study did show a very small increase in muscle-related side effects in one group, but no added risk of liver problems.
The authors say these finding suggest, “Clinicians should consider the benefits of using statins in all adults with (type 2 diabetes) even when short-term predicted (cardiovascular disease) risk is low.”
