Here's a tedious presentation for providers summarizing a bunch of studies from a few years ago:
http://www.dmhc.ca.gov/library/reports/news/rci/sdbps/Sac_v8_Rt_care_112012.pdf
(Pay attention to slide #11)
The bottom line is that for prevention of MI in diabetics and people with a previous history of a coronary event, peripheral vascular disease, etc., the combination of a cheap, generic statin, a cheap, generic ACE-I drug (lisinopril, benazepril or some other "-pril") and cheap, generic aspirin is extraordinarily powerful for dropping (not eliminating) risk of a heart attack. People without those risk factors don't get much if any improvement with the same combo, though. The risks of the drugs are grossly exaggerated in the media. People who develop type 2 diabetes on statins already have signs indicating that they have the genetic pre-disposition to the problem anyway.
I did not find that slide show tedious at all, though it would have been helpful to be at the presentation as much information is missing from the slides. Thank you for the link. However, what I draw from it is the following:
-For a couple of decades, based on some "evidence" of uncertain nature, the general public has been over treated with statins with no significant benefit. Rush to prescribe a concern then, what about now?
-From the slides, it appears as though the research is based on type2 diabetes, which is very different from type 1. DH's body simply doesn't make insulin anymore, which he must inject. For him it was an auto immune issue that occurred post infection as a kid. His body uses the injected insulin just fine, and is not insulin resistant as is the case with type 2.
-Beyond statins there are several ways to reduce MI risk, including ace inhibitors and aspirin, both of which he takes. Not covered by this slide show is low carb dieting, which has been shown to be heart healthy when done well, and taking other anti-inflammatory supplements such as fish oil and turmeric.
My conclusions, though no doubt imperfect:
-Cynically observe a need for the statin manufacturers to find another set of customers now that long term analysis of the one time ground breaking "evidence" has shown that the treatment with statins is ineffective for many.
-Wonder what the results will be down the road when the current conclusion that people with diabetes should take statins is analyzed and controlled for type of diabetes, alternative supplementation/meds, and lifestyle. Just how much do statins add? Is the combination with aspirin and ace inhibitor magical, or do the aspirin/ace combo pretty much cover it, particularly when combined with lifestyle/supplements?
-Believe that side effects of statins are actually more prevalent than reported. While anecdotal evidence is a much weaker approach to determining risk than a controlled study, there is an increasing amount of anecdotal evidence demonstrating that negative life effects, ones that doctors have not been told could be a result of statins, disappear when statins are removed from body.
IP,
who never stopped asking "why" after leaving the toddler years
