Treating type 2 diabetes is not only about blood sugar. Many patients also have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, which is why preventive medication is often used.
The question is who actually benefits from this treatment.
How statins are used today
Statins are drugs that lower cholesterol levels in the blood. They are used to reduce the risk of blood clots and stroke.
People with type 2 diabetes are often prescribed statins, but not all of them.
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According to the American College of Physicians, cited by Science Daily, doctors have typically assessed the need for medication based on a calculation of the risk of heart disease over the next ten years.
If the risk has been low, many patients have not been offered statins, as the benefit was assumed to be limited.
New research
According to a study published in Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers from the University of Hong Kong analyzed British health data from the IMRD-UK database.
The study included adults with type 2 diabetes who had not previously had serious heart disease.
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The researchers followed participants for up to ten years and compared those who began taking statins with those who did not.
Participants were divided according to their calculated risk of cardiovascular disease.
What the results showed
The results showed that people receiving statin therapy had lower mortality and fewer serious cardiovascular events, regardless of risk level.
Patients who had previously been classified as low risk also benefited from the treatment.
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Side effects were rare. According to the researchers, only a small increase in muscle-related complaints was observed in one group, and there were no signs of increased liver problems.
According to the study, statins may have a broader preventive effect than previously assumed.
The researchers point out that relying solely on short-term risk models may mean that some patients are excluded from a treatment that could extend their lives.
Sources: Science Daily, American College of Physicians, and Annals of Internal Medicine.
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