UK Health Radio Medical News Update - BMJ given backing in Statin debate

UK Health Radio Medical News Update

BMJ given backing in Statin debate

In the long running debate about statins, the BBC reports that investigation has given backing to the British Medical Journal's handling of two controversial and inaccurate articles it published on the harms of cholesterol-reducing statins.  Both of which claimed that 20% of users would suffer harmful side effects. Statins are given to lower levels of cholesterol in the blood to reduce the odds of a heart attack or stroke.

The journal withdrew the claim, but refused a full retraction.

Prominent academics, however, continue to demand a retraction criticising the investigation and saying that the articles still damage confidence in statins.

The pros and cons of the drugs became a hugely contentious area of medicine in the run-up to a massive prescribing expansion in July. Four in 10 adults in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are, according to guidelines, now eligible for statins, even although many of that number are at low risk of a heart attack or stroke.

Claims had been made by Dr John Abramson, from Harvard Medical School and, writing separately, by cardiologist Dr Aseem Malhotra that claimed that the side effects of statins affected 18-20% of people taking them.

However the research they quoted did not adjust its findings for the level of those side effects - such as liver inflammation, increased risk of diabetes and muscle problems, which would have arisen even if people were not taking the drugs.

Leading academic Prof Rory Collins, from Oxford University, said that the articles could have encouraged people to stop taking statins with potentially life threatening consequences.

The 20% figure for side effects was eventually withdrawn, but the reports have not been retracted.

Amanda Thomas

UK Health Radio Medical News Update

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