scholarly journals Statins: Practical Considerations – A Review

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 71
Author(s):  
Kazeen Abdullah ◽  
Anand Rohatgi ◽  
◽  

Statins are currently the most efficacious and widely prescribed lipid-lowering medications. The 2013 ACC/AHA cholesterol guidelines provide a dramatic shift in treatment approach with a focus on fixed-dose statins matched to individual risk scores. Statin intolerance is not uncommon and can be challenging to diagnose and manage; however, several therapeutic strategies have been successful in achieving statin tolerance. Statin use is also associated with liver enzyme elevations and increased risk of incident diabetes, but studies show these individuals benefit from statins. Several guidelines exist and statin use is expected to increase with the new cholesterol guidelines bringing along new challenges for prescribers. This review article will provide practical considerations for statin use and management of statin intolerance.

2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pansy Elsamadisi ◽  
Agnes Cha ◽  
Elise Kim ◽  
Safia Latif

Background: The 2013 Cholesterol Guidelines include a new atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk calculator that determines the 10-year risk of coronary heart disease and/or stroke. The applicability of this calculator and its predecessor, the Framingham risk score (FRS) in Adult Treatment Panel (ATP) III, has been limited in patients with HIV. The objective of this study was to compare the risk scores of ASCVD and FRS in the initiation of statin therapy in patients with HIV. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients with HIV on statin therapy from October 1, 2013, to April 1, 2014. Data collection included patient demographics, pertinent laboratory test results, and medication list. The primary end point evaluated the level of agreement between the guidelines. Results: Of 155 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 116 were treated similarly with both guidelines. This showed a moderate level of agreement ( P < .001). Forty-eight of 86 patients requiring statins were placed on the correct intensity statin using the 2013 guidelines. Regardless of which guideline, a majority of patients required statin therapy. Conclusion: A moderate agreement was found between both guidelines in terms of statin use when applied to an HIV patient population. Based on the 2013 guidelines and taking into account drug interactions with antiretrovirals, 44.2% of the patients were treated with an incorrect statin intensity.


Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 116 (21) ◽  
pp. 5122-5122
Author(s):  
Moh'd Khushman ◽  
Abdel-ghanie Abu-samra ◽  
Shatha Farhan ◽  
Gordon Jacobsen ◽  
Amr Hanbali ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 5122 Background: Dyslipidemia plays a major role in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis which may also contributed to an increased risk of and thromboembolism from the injury of the vascular endothelium and its activation of platelets, thereafter, the coagulation cascade. It has been well-established that the use of statins in patients with dyslipidemia reduces cardiovascular events and mortality, therefore, improves survival. In addition to a cholesterol-lowering effect, statins exhibit antithrombotic and anti-inflammatory properties that may confer a protective benefit to an increased risk of thromboembolism in cancer patients. Several case-controlled studies reported that cancer patients receiving long-term statins, but not other non-statin lipid lowering treatment, had a lower incidence of venous thromboembolism. Methods: To investigate any protective benefit from statin use in lung cancer patients, we have conducted this retrospective, case-controlled study. Total of 1548 patients with lung cancer were included from the tumor registery at Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan, between January 1999 and December 2004. The data were extracted from available electronic medical records of these patients. Statistical analyses were performed and stratified for statin users versus non statin users. Results: Out of 1,548 patients, 315 patients (average age was 68, range 46–90) were statin users at the time of their lung cancer diagnosis. The remaining 1233 patients (average age was 65.9, range 29–94) were non- statin users. After stratifying for statin use, 25 of the 315 statin users developed DVT/PE (7.9%), while 100 of the 1233 non-statin users developed DVT/PE (8.1%). This potential benefit from statin use can also be better visualized from comparing the development of DVT/PE between the statin and non-statin groups in a Kaplan-Meier curve for the probability of freedom from DVT/PE across time. Though statistical significance was not reached (log-rank p-value = 0.377), a trend towards a slightly decreased incidence of DVT/PE onset in the patients who receiving statin as the lipid-lowering agent has been observed. Conclusion: Based on our preliminary data, statin use in patients with lung cancer has demonstrated a weak but favorable protective effect on the development of a venous thromboembolism. The nature as a retrospective study and not well-balanced two group of patients (e.g., the average age of statin users were 2 years older than the non-statin users) may limit our results from reaching statistical significance. In addition, some of the patients who had no clear documentation of their home medications had also been categorized as non-statin users in our study. The results from our final data analysis will be presented. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Author(s):  
Noori A.M. Guman ◽  
Matteo Candeloro ◽  
Noémie Kraaijpoel ◽  
Marcello Di Nisio

AbstractCancer patients have a high risk of developing venous thromboembolism and arterial thrombosis, along with an increased risk of anticoagulant-related bleeding with primary and secondary prophylaxis of cancer-associated thrombosis. Decisions on initiation, dosing, and duration of anticoagulant therapy for prevention and treatment of cancer-associated thrombosis are challenging, as clinicians have to balance patients' individual risk of (recurrent) thrombosis against the risk of bleeding complications. For this purpose, several dedicated risk assessment models for venous thromboembolism in cancer patients have been suggested. However, most of these scores perform poorly and have received limited to no validation. For bleeding and arterial thrombosis, no risk scores have been developed specifically for cancer patients, and treatment decisions remain based on clinical gestalt and rough and unstructured estimation of the risks. The aims of this review are to summarize the characteristics and performance of risk assessment scores for (recurrent) venous thromboembolism and discuss available data on risk assessment for bleeding and arterial thrombosis in the cancer population. This summary can help clinicians in daily practice to make a balanced decision when considering the use of risk assessment models for cancer-associated venous thromboembolism. Future research attempts should aim at improving risk assessment for arterial thrombosis and anticoagulant-related bleeding in cancer patients.


Circulation ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 130 (suppl_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Maddox ◽  
William Borden ◽  
Fengming Tang ◽  
Salim Virani ◽  
William Oetgen ◽  
...  

Background: In a significant update, the 2013 ACC/AHA cholesterol guidelines recommend fixed-dose statin therapy for those at risk and do not recommend non-statin therapies or treatment to target LDL-C levels, limiting the need for repeated LDL-C testing. We examined the implications of these updated guidelines on current lipid treatment and testing patterns in a national registry of cardiology practices. Methods: Using NCDR® PINNACLE Registry® data from 2008 to 2012, we assessed current practice patterns as a function of the 2013 cholesterol guidelines. Lipid-lowering therapies and LDL-C testing patterns by patient risk group (atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), diabetes, off-treatment LDL-C ≥190mg/dL, or an estimated 10-year ASCVD risk ≥7.5%) were described. Results: Among a cohort of 1,174,545 patients, 1,129,205 (96.1%) were statin-eligible (91.2% ASCVD, 6.6% diabetes, 0.3% off-treatment LDL-C ≥190mg/dL, 1.9% estimated 10-year ASCVD risk ≥7.5%). 377,311 (32.4%) patients were not receiving statin therapy and 259,143 (22.6%) were receiving non-statin therapies. 20.8% patients had 2 or more LDL-C assessments during the study period, and 7.0% had more than 4 assessments. Conclusions: In U.S. cardiovascular practices, 32.4% of statin-eligible patients, as defined by the 2013 ACC/AHA cholesterol guidelines, were not currently receiving them. In addition, 22.6% were receiving non-statin lipid-lowering therapies and 20.8% had repeated LDL-C testing. Achieving concordance with the new cholesterol guidelines would result in significant increases in statin use, as well as significant reductions in non-statin therapies and laboratory testing.


Author(s):  
Ian C. Gilchrist ◽  
David A. Morrow ◽  
Mark A. Creager ◽  
Jeffrey W. Olin ◽  
Benjamin M. Scirica ◽  
...  

Background Patients with peripheral artery disease are at increased risk of both major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) and limb events. The pathobiology of limb events is likely multifactorial. Observational studies suggest a benefit of statin therapy for reducing the risk of limb ischemic events while randomized trials demonstrate a benefit with more potent antithrombotic therapies, particularly those targeting thrombin. Whether the effects of these therapeutic pathways are independent and complementary is not known. Methods and Results The TRA 2°P‐TIMI 50 (Thrombin Receptor Antagonist in Secondary Prevention of Atherothrombotic Ischemic Events–Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction 50) trial demonstrated that vorapaxar significantly reduced MACEs and limb events. The purpose of the current analysis was to evaluate the association of statin use and intensity and the occurrence of MACEs and limb events in 5845 patients with symptomatic peripheral artery disease randomized in TRA 2°P‐TIMI 50 and then to understand whether statin use modified the benefits of vorapaxar for MACEs or limb ischemic events. We found that statin therapy was associated with significantly lower risk of MACEs (hazard ratio [HR], 0.77; 95% CI, 0.66–0.89; P <0.001) and limb ischemic events (HR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.60–0.89; P =0.002). The benefit of vorapaxar for reducing MACEs and limb events was consistent regardless of background statin ( P ‐interaction=0.715 and 0.073, respectively). Event rates were lowest in patients receiving the combination of statin therapy and vorapaxar. Conclusions In conclusion, statin use and intensity is associated with significantly lower rates of MACEs and limb ischemic events. Thrombin inhibition with vorapaxar is effective regardless of background statin therapy. These results suggest that targeting both lipid and thrombotic risk in peripheral artery disease is necessary in order to optimize outcomes.


2013 ◽  
Vol 22 (04) ◽  
pp. 271-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Farahmand ◽  
J. D. Ringe

SummaryOsteoporosis in men is increasingly recognized as an important public health problem but affected patients are still under-diagnosed and -treated. As in women the diagnostic and therapeutic strategy has to be adapted to the individual case. In the practical management it is very important to detect possible causes of secondary osteoporosis, to explain the possibilities of basic therapy counteracting individual risk factors and communicate that osteoporosis is a chronic disease and adherence to a long-term treatment is crucial. In established severe osteoporosis a careful analgesic therapy is important to avoid further bone loss related to immobility. In elderly men with increased risk of falling insufficient Vitamin D supply or impaired activation of Vitamin D due to renal insufficiency must be taken into consideration. Specific medications available today for the treatment of male osteoporosis comprise among antiresorptive drugs the bis phosphonates alendronate, risedronate and zoledronic acid. Denosumab, the first biological therapy is approved for men with androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer. An important advantage of this potent antiresorptive drug is the increased adherence due to the comfortable application by sixmonthly subcutaneous injections. Study results from the 2-year multi-center randomized controlled ADAMO-Study will very soon allow the use of denosumab in all types of male osteoporosis. Teriparatide, the 34 N-terminal amino acid sequence of parathyroid hormone was approved for men with osteoporosis as an anabolic agent based on proven efficacy by different studies. Among drugs with other modes of action the D-hormone pro-drug alfacalcidol can be used in men alone or in combination with the advantage of pleiotropic effects on calcium absorption, parathyroids, bone and muscle. Recently also Strontium-ranelate was approved for male patients with the limitation to exclude men with clinical relevant cardiovascular risk factors. In general the possibilities to treat male osteoporosis have considerably improved during recent years. Today there is a choice of a spectrum of drugs from mild to strong potency with different modes of action on bone turnover to design strategies for individual male patients.


2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-20
Author(s):  
Abu Khaled Muhammad Iqbal ◽  
Nasima Akhter ◽  
Hasan Shahrear Ahmed ◽  
Md Rassell ◽  
AMM Yahia ◽  
...  

Background: Malignant neoplastic lesions of the breast are one of the main causes of cancer death among women. In tumor cells the expression status of Estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and c-ERBB2 (HER2/neu) are therapeutically and prognostically important markers affecting the treatment approach, management and prognosis of breast carcinoma. Objective: To explore the relation of receptor status in recurrent breast cancer to age and time of recurrence. Methods: This study was conducted in National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital (NICRH) and included 81 female patients between 20 to 75 years with recurrent breast cancer. Detection of receptor status of ER +ve/-ve, PR +ve/-ve, Her-2+ve/-ve was based on the immunohistochemistry staining of tissue samples of malignant neoplastic lesions prepared from tissue biopsies of patients with recurrent breast cancer. All the information were recorded through the pre-structured data collection sheet and analyzed. Results: This study showed that most of the recurrent breast cancer patients were Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) (39.5%) and among them most of them were younger patients. Younger patients with TNBC had increased risk of recurrence. Most of the recurrence occurred within 1-2 years. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the assessment of the expression of these biornarkers in recurrent tumors provides reliable information for the treatment approach of locoregional tumors. Journal of Surgical Sciences (2018) Vol. 22 (1): 16-20


2008 ◽  
Vol 149 (15) ◽  
pp. 691-696
Author(s):  
Dániel Bereczki

Chronic kidney diseases and cardiovascular diseases have several common risk factors like hypertension and diabetes. In chronic renal disease stroke risk is several times higher than in the average population. The combination of classical risk factors and those characteristic of chronic kidney disease might explain this increased risk. Among acute cerebrovascular diseases intracerebral hemorrhages are more frequent than in those with normal kidney function. The outcome of stroke is worse in chronic kidney disease. The treatment of stroke (thrombolysis, antiplatelet and anticoagulant treatment, statins, etc.) is an area of clinical research in this patient group. There are no reliable data on the application of thrombolysis in acute stroke in patients with chronic renal disease. Aspirin might be administered. Carefulness, individual considerations and lower doses might be appropriate when using other treatments. The condition of the kidney as well as other associated diseases should be considered during administration of antihypertensive and lipid lowering medications.


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
F Ahmadizar ◽  
K Wang ◽  
F Mattace Raso ◽  
MA Ikram ◽  
M Kavousi

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background. Arterial stiffness/remodeling results in impaired blood flow and, eventually, decreased glucose disposal in peripheral tissues and increased blood glucose. Besides, increased arterial stiffness/remodeling may lead to hypertension, as a potential reciprocal risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). We, therefore, hypothesized that increased arterial stiffness/remodeling is associated with an increased risk of T2D. Purpose. To study the associations between arterial stiffness/remodeling and incident T2D. Methods. We used the prospective population-based Rotterdam Study. Common carotid arterial properties were ultrasonically determined in plaque-free areas. Aortic stiffness was estimated by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf_PWV), carotid stiffness was estimated by the carotid distensibility coefficient (carDC). Arterial remodeling was estimated by carotid artery lumen diameter (carDi), carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), mean circumferential wall stress (CWSmean), and pulsatile circumferential wall stress (CWSpuls). Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was used to estimate the associations between arterial stiffness/remodeling and the risk of incident T2D, adjusted for age, sex, cohort, mean arterial pressure (MAP), antihypertensive medications, heart rate, non- high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, lipid-lowering medications, and smoking. We included interaction terms in the fully adjusted models to study whether any significant associations were modified by sex, age, blood glucose, or MAP. Spearman correlation analyses were applied to examine the correlations between measurements of arterial stiffness/remodeling and glycemic traits. Results. We included 3,055 individuals free of T2D at baseline (mean (SD) age, 67.2 (7.9) years). During a median follow-up of 14.0 years, 395 (12.9%) T2D occurred. After adjustments, higher cf_PWV (hazard ratio (HR),1.18; 95%CI:1.04-1.35), carDi (1.17; 1.04-1.32), cIMT (1.15; 1.01-1.32), and CWSpuls (1.28; 1.12-1.47) were associated with increased risk of incident T2D. After further adjustment for the baseline glucose, the associations attenuated but remained statistically significant. Sex, age, blood glucose, or MAP did not modify the associations between measurements of arterial stiffness/remodeling, and incident T2D. Among the population with prediabetes at baseline (n = 513) compared to the general population, larger cIMT was associated with a greater increase in the risk of T2D. Most measurements of arterial stiffness/remodeling significantly but weakly correlated with baseline glycemic traits, particularly with blood glucose.  Conclusions. Our study suggests that greater arterial stiffness/remodeling is independently associated with an increased risk of T2D development. Blood glucose and hypertension do not seem to play significant roles in these associations. Further studies should disentangle the underlying mechanism that links arterial stiffness/remodeling and T2D.


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