Statins may worsen symptoms in some patients cardiac

Although statins are commonly used to prevent heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular diseases, such as research shows that the new class of drugs may even have a negative effect on certain cardiac patients. A new study presented at CHEST 2009, the 75th Annual International Scientific Assembly of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), showed that statins) have beneficial effects on patients with systolic heart failure (SHF, but those who diastolic heart failure (DHF) have experienced the opposite effect, including increased shortness of breath, fatigue and reduced ability. "systolic heart failure are usually due to coronary disease, and seems rather an inflammatory component as diastolic heart failure, "said Lawrence P. Cahalin, PhD, PT, Northeastern University, Boston, MA." It is possible that statins in patients with systolic heart failure of more patients with heart failure diastolic pressure due to lower cholesterol and fight against the inflammatory effects of statins would be useful. "

Researchers from Northeastern University and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, retrospectively reviewed the charts of 136 patients with heart failure, the effect of statins on lung function (PF) and handling (ET) patients suffering from dengue haemorrhagic versus SHF. A non-statin group (82 per cent of patients had DHF) of 75 patients with statin group, compared to (72 percent of DHF patients) was 61 patients. Atorvastatin was prescribed in 75 percent of patients taking statins.

The results of the analysis revealed that the PF and ET of total patients in the statin group were significantly lower than patients in the non-statin. Further analysis of the subgroup showed that the activities of PF in the statin group DHF 12 percent lower than the FP activities in the non-DHF group had statin. In addition, the amount of exercise for patients with dengue haemorrhagic fever, which were performed on a statin, nearly 50 percent less than patients with DHF and not on a statin.

"Some patients with diastolic heart failure may be more vulnerable to the adverse effects of statins on muscle. It is possible that patients with pre-existing factors unfavorable results of statin therapy, including exercise intolerance, dyspnea and fatigue experience, "said Dr. Cahalin.

Although the PF and the extra-terrestrial in the statin group SHF was not significantly greater than that of the SHF Non-statin group, with measures of PF by 11 per cent higher to 14 per cent and the end of ET activities were higher than 2 percent to 7 percent in the PF and ET has led SHF non-statin group, suggesting that statins in patients with SHF.

"Not all statins are equal and all patients are equal. Some statins are more powerful than others and are likely to act differently, as causing particular patient characteristics and different degrees of desirable and undesirable effects, "said Dr. Cahalin." In our next study, the 'hope, patient characteristics associated with favorable outcomes and less favorable treatment with statin identified. "

Although new data suggest that statins May actually worsen symptoms in patients with dengue haemorrhagic fever, the researchers believe that the benefits of using statins in patients with SHF and DHF outweigh the risks .

"The positive effects on lipids and other cardiovascular factors, statin therapy is standard treatment for many patients with or without heart failure systolic or diastolic. It is likely that the use of statins for these conditions will continue to grow, "said Dr. Cahalin. "However, when patients taking statins are tired breath, short and not exercise or perform functional tests and muscle strength and endurance, as well as pulmonary function and exercise tolerance, justified .

"Statins offer significant benefits for patients with cardiovascular disease, said Kalpalatha Guntupalli, MD, FCCP, President of the American College of Chest Physicians. But as with any new prescription drugs, physicians should closely monitor the effects that different types of statins on the patient. "