A large long-term study has found that statins, a widely used class of cholesterol-lowering medications, significantly reduce the risk of death and serious heart-related problems in adults with type 2 diabetes. Importantly, these benefits were seen even in people who were considered to have a low chance of developing heart disease within the next 10 years. This challenges a long-standing debate over whether preventive statin treatment is worthwhile for patients who appear to be at lower cardiovascular risk.
Statins are commonly prescribed to lower LDL cholesterol, what many people know as bad cholesterol. High LDL levels are linked to clogged arteries, heart attacks, and strokes. People with type 2 diabetes already face a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, but doctors have not always agreed on whether statins are necessary for those whose short-term heart risk appears minimal. The new findings suggest that statins may offer protective effects for a much wider group of diabetes patients than previously believed. The study was published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
The research team, led by scientists from the University of Hong Kong, examined health records from the IQVIA Medical Research Data (IMRD)-UK database. Their goal was to assess both the effectiveness and safety of starting statin therapy for primary prevention. Primary prevention refers to preventing a first heart attack or stroke before any such event has occurred.
The study focused on adults in the United Kingdom with type 2 diabetes between the ages of 25 and 84. Participants were followed for as long as 10 years. At the start of the study, none of the individuals had serious heart disease or significant liver problems, allowing researchers to more clearly assess the effects of statins without interference from existing severe conditions.
Statins Reduced Death and Heart Events at Every Risk Level
Researchers compared people who began taking statins with those who did not, grouping them based on their predicted 10-year risk of developing cardiovascular disease. This risk estimate is commonly used in clinical practice to guide treatment decisions.
Across all risk categories, statin use was linked to lower rates of death from any cause and fewer major cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes. Even participants classified as low risk experienced measurable benefits, which directly challenges the assumption that statins only help people already at high risk of heart disease.
Safety Findings and What They Mean for Patients
In terms of safety, the researchers observed a very small increase in myopathy in one risk group. Myopathy refers to muscle-related side effects, which can include weakness or soreness and are a known but uncommon concern with statin use. No increase in liver-related problems was found, addressing another common worry among patients and clinicians.
Based on these results, the authors concluded that doctors should carefully consider the advantages of statin therapy for all adults with type 2 diabetes, even when a person’s short-term predicted risk of cardiovascular disease is low. The findings suggest that relying solely on short-term risk estimates may cause some patients to miss out on treatments that could help them live longer and avoid serious heart complications.
