Researchers at the University of Oxford have created a new calculator that estimates a person's individual risk of developing serious muscle disorders while taking statins. The tool is designed to help patients and doctors make more informed decisions about these commonly prescribed cholesterol lowering medications, which are widely used to prevent heart attacks and strokes.
The research, published in The Lancet Digital Health, found that more than 98% of people identified by their general practitioners as eligible for statin therapy were at low predicted risk of developing a serious muscle disorder over the following 10 years. The findings suggest that fears about severe muscle related side effects may be overstated for most people who could benefit from treatment.
New Tool Aims To Personalize Statin Decisions
The researchers also uncovered a significant treatment gap. More than 60% of people who were eligible to take statins were not using them, even though some faced a high risk of heart attack or stroke. The team believes the new calculator could improve conversations between patients and clinicians by providing personalized estimates of risk instead of relying on general statistics or broad concerns about side effects.
