Lancet Meta-analysis: Statins should be more widely prescribed for patients with diabetes

Almost all patients with diabetes should be considered for therapy with statins, according to authors of a meta-analysis published in the current issue of The Lancet. (Abstract - Efficacy of cholesterol-lowering therapy in 18 686 people with diabetes in 14 randomised trials of statins: a meta-analysis
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The study, led by researchers at the Oxford-based Cholesterol Treatment Trialists' Collaboration working with colleagues in Australia, brought together information from 14 randomised trials.

It included 18,686 patients with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and 71,370 without diabetes and found that those with diabetes reduced their risk of major vascular events, such as heart attack and stroke, by about 33 percent over five years, compared with those who did not take the drugs. Additionally, in patients with the disease, all-cause mortality was reduced by 9 percent over an average of 4.3 years for every step reduction in LDL cholesterol. The researchers indicated that the findings were similar for patients without diabetes who took statins.

Study co-author Colin Baigent noted that the findings suggest "statins are clearly effective for a wide range of people with diabetes, irrespective of their absolute risk and irrespective of whether they have type 1 or type 2 (diabetes) or whether they are male or female." Only those with exceptionally low risk of heart attack or stroke and those who cannot take the drugs should be exempted from consideration for statin treatment, the researchers added.

In an accompanying article, Bernard Cheung of the University of Birmingham said that statins were among the most notable triumphs of modern medicine.

He added in a statement of the bleeding obvious to all diabetics: "Apart from drug treatment, one must not forget the importance of lifestyle changes, such as cessation of smoking, healthy diet, and regular exercise."

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