Treatment with statins leads to modest reduction in BP
Use of statins in individuals with no known cardiovascular disease or diabetes results in a modest, but significant, reduction in blood pressure, a new study suggests (Archives of Internal Medicine 2008;168:721).
Researchers compared the effects of statins with those of placebo in
973 individuals who did not have diabetes or cardiovascular disease.
For six months between 2000 and 2004 participants were assigned to take
20mg simvastatin, 40mg pravastatin or placebo.
Among individuals assigned to take statins, systolic blood pressure decreased
by an average of 2.2mmHg and diastolic blood pressure decreased by an
average of 2.4mmHg. The effect of statins on blood pressure was not evident
at one month of treatment, was significant at six months of treatment
and dissipated two months after treatment ended.
“This study adds to our understanding of the effects of statins,
currently the best-selling prescription drugs in the world,” the
researchers say.
“The reduction in blood pressure seen with statins may contribute — among
other identified factors — to some of the ‘rapid’ cardiovascular
benefits of statins, arising too swiftly to be explained by effects of
statins on plaque accumulation.”
|
The
Pharmaceutical Journal
Acrobat
Reader