Should I take a statin? Statistics tell a story about groups of patients, not a single patient (you). What statistics can do is provide your physician with information about what therapies will probably be helpful for you. These statistics help your doctor identify therapies that may help you live longer and live better. When it comes to preventing coronary artery disease, the foundation of medication therapy is based upon three pillars:
1) Improving blood pressure
2) Controlling blood glucose
3) Outstanding cholesterol numbers
For the purpose of this post, we will focus on the cholesterol. Below, I have included the classification of LDL cholesterol levels as determined by the Adult Treatment Panel 3’s (ATP 3):
LDL Cholesterol –
<100 Optimal
100-129 Near optimal
130-159 Borderline high
160-189 High
>190 Very high
People often ask should I take a statin?For those of you with diabetes or prior heart disease, you already know that your cardiologist is like a dog with a bone when it comes to your LDL…they just can’t seem to leave it alone. Some of you have probably wondered why but have probably been too afraid to ask so. Next time when you get a copy of your labs, your cholesterol will be broken down into at least two different types (1) the good cholesterol or high density lipoprotein (HDL) and (2) the bad cholesterol or low density lipoprotein (LDL). The LDL is a great target for you and your doctor to follow because high levels are associated with heart disease. Also we actually have medicines that can make a real difference with LDL. These two things make it a very good target for your doctor. So should I take a statin?
It is important to note that LDL is a moving target. Your LDL value may be OK for you but not OK for your sister. There are many factors that go into determining what value is most appropriate for you. I will try to make this convoluted subject as straight forward as I can so be patient with me.
As a general rule of thumb, lower LDL levels are better for your heart. The higher your risk for heart disease, the lower we want your LDL to be. If you already have coronary artery disease OR a condition that puts you at equal risk (diabetes, symptomatic carotid artery disease, abdominal aortic aneurysm, peripheral artery disease) OR a 10-year Framingham 10-year risk of greater than 20%* read carefully, this is important. If any of the above describe you then you are at HIGH RISK for heart attack and you have work to do to lower your cholesterol. Your target LDL is less than 100 mg/dl. If you have any of the above AND at least two more risk factors for heart disease like high blood pressure, age (greater than 45 for men and greater than 55 for women, smoking, family history of early heart disease, metabolic syndrome) then you are at the HIGHEST RISK and your target LDL is less than 70 mg/dl. To be honest, once you cross into the HIGH RISK category, many cardiologist will automatically start shooting for 70 mg/dl.
But should I take statin?
If you have two risk factors for heart disease or your Framingham 10-year risk* is between 10-20% I want your LDL to be less than 130 mg/dl. If you have less than two risk factors then we are fairly liberal. In this case your LDL should be less than 160 mg/dl. No matter what your level of LDL, it may be reasonable to consider diet and exercise first. Unfortunately with these very low target LDLs, most of the time lifestyle changes are not enough.
Statin medications have gotten a pretty bad reputation and most of it is unfair. Unfortunately, patients are almost universally hesitant to take them. Television commercials about the dangers of statins have not helped. However, if you have heart disease, don’t ask “should I take a statin?” but instead ask “why shouldn’t I take a statin?”. It may very well save your life.
#LowerIsBetter or #myheart
* visit myheart.net to have your 10-year Framingham risk calculated for you
Related articles
- Do I really need that statin drug? (myheart.net/articles)
- How often should I have a stress test (myheart.net/articles)
- Angina or some other chest pain (myheart.net/articles)
- Triglycerides and my heart (myheart.net/articles)
- Diabetes and my heart (myheart.net/articles)
- Is it safe to take Viagra with my heart medications? (myheart.net/articles)
My husband has had 5 ruptured tendons including 2 ruptured quad tendons. With no explanation as to why he has had these issues we discussed his use of Crestor with the doctor. Initially he stopped taking Lipitor because it was causing muscle weakness in his arms. We never even associated his use of statins with his tendon issues. The doctor expressed anecdotal evidence of the use of Crestor and tendon rupture. Researching the internet we found some small studies done. Still, we have decided that he will go off the Crestor for the time being. You HAVE to look at the benefit versus the risk of pharmicueticals. The inflammation, recuperation, and lack of physical exercise associated with these ruptures is far greater than the lackluster benefit that statins have on first heart attacks.
I appreciate your one of your point of view, however I respectfully disagree. As a cardiologist I see the devastation of cardiovascular disease. About half people who experience a first-time heart attack will present with death. I think this is they figure that cannot be overlooked. Anything that we can do to minimize the mobidity and mortality of heart disease should be strongly considered. Perhaps my vision is a little skewed given my profession is taken care of heart disease. Again I appreciate your input.
Doc, you deal with heart disease every day, so your views are in fact skewed. To use an analogy, it is similar to if you worked in a head trauma center, you would want every human to wear a helmet even while walking, without regard for the quality of life trade-off involved, and the fact that most people do not in fact get head trauma in their lifetime. In my opinion, this is how we should look at statins. 1. Whether people do actually have the markers for heart disease, not just high cholesterol. 2. Whether those who do have the markers are willing to do other natural things to improve their cholesterol ratio, such as lose weight, and eat less sugar carbs. 3. Whether those who are unwilling to follow these natural methods understand the risks of statins, i.e. statins are not a free lunch. They cause side effects. Instead, I see that doctors are more than willing to take the lazy way out, i.e. prescribe statins to anyone with elevated cholesterol. This is a terrible idea, especially given that statins are known to increase stroke risk by more than they lower heart disease risk, in otherwise healthy people.
Oops, pharmaceutical. Not enough coffee I guess.