Statin use is associated with a 57% increased risk of age-related cataract

This study was published in Optometry and Vision Science 2012 Aug;89(8):1165-71

 

Study title and authors:

Age-related cataract is associated with type 2 diabetes and statin use.

Machan CM, Hrynchak PK, Irving EL.

School of Optometry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22797512

This study investigated the associations between age-related cataract, type 2 diabetes, and statin use. The study included 6,397 patients aged 1-93 years.

The study found:
(a) Statin users had a 57% increased risk of age-related cataract compared to non-users.
(b) The 50% probability of cataract in statin users occurred at age 51.7 and 54.9 years in patients with type 2 diabetes and without diabetes, respectively. In non-statin users, it was significantly later at age 55.1 and 57.3 years for patients with type 2 diabetes and without diabetes, respectively.

The results of the study show that statin use is associated with an increased risk of age-related cataract.

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Statins increase the risk of cataract

This study was published in QJM 2003 May;96(5):337-43

Study title and authors:
Cataract and the use of statins: a case-control study.

Smeeth L, Hubbard R, Fletcher AE.
Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK. liam.smeeth@lshtm.ac.uk

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12702782

The aim of the study was to assess the risk of cataracts associated with the use of statins. The study included 15,479 people with cataract and 15,479 controls without cataract.

The study found that those who were exposed to statins had a 4% increased risk of cataract compared to those who had never used statins.

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The unintended adverse effects of statins in men and women

This study was published in the British Medical Journal 2010 May 20;340:c2197

Study title and authors:
Unintended effects of statins in men and women in England and Wales: population based cohort study using the QResearch database.

Hippisley-Cox J, Coupland C.
Division of Primary Care, University Park, Nottingham NG2 7RD. julia.hippisley-cox@ntlworld.com

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20488911

The objective of the study was to quantify the unintended effects of statins. The study included 2,004 692 patients aged 30-84 years.

The study found after five years:
(a) Women who used statins had a 56% increased risk of acute renal (kidney) failure compared to women who did not use statins.
(b) Women who used statins had a 30% increased risk of cataracts compared to women who did not use statins.
(c) Women who used statins had a 53% increased risk of liver disease compared to women who did not use statins.
(d) Women who used statins had a 197% increased risk of myopathy (muscle disease) compared to women who did not use statins.
(e) Men who used statins had a 61% increased risk of acute renal (kidney) failure compared to men who did not use statins.
(f) Men who used statins had a 32% increased risk of cataracts compared to men who did not use statins.
(g) Men who used statins had a 53% increased risk of liver disease compared to men who did not use statins.
(h) Men who used statins had a 515% increased risk of myopathy (muscle disease) compared to men who did not use statins.

The study highlights some of the unintended adverse effects of using statins.
Statins increase the death rate by 150-300%
Statins increase the incidence of liver damage
Statin use increases muscle damage after exercise (including the heart muscle)

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