Statins linked to lower mortality risk
Statins, widely used to treat high cholesterol, may significantly reduce the risk of death and major cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes, including those deemed at low cardiovascular risk. The findings, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, challenge the long-standing uncertainty over whether low-risk patients with diabetes gain a meaningful benefit from preventive statin therapy.
Large real-world analysis
Researchers, including a team from the University of Hong Kong, analysed data from adults aged 25 to 84 years in the UK living with type 2 diabetes, who were followed for up to 10 years. None of the participants had serious heart or liver disease at baseline, allowing a clearer assessment of the impact of statin initiation on future outcomes.
Benefits across full risk spectrum
The study compared individuals who started statin therapy with those who did not, across varying levels of predicted cardiovascular risk. Statin use for primary prevention in type 2 diabetes was associated with reductions in all‑cause mortality and major cardiovascular disease events across the entire risk spectrum, including in patients considered low risk.
Implications for clinical practice
Statins were found to lower the chances of dying from any cause and reduce the risk of major cardiac events among all patients assessed. The authors said the data support considering statin therapy for all adults with type 2 diabetes, even when short‑term predicted cardiovascular disease risk is low, suggesting a broader protective role than previously assumed.
