- Center on Health Equity & Access
- Clinical
- Health Care Cost
- Health Care Delivery
- Insurance
- Policy
- Technology
- Value-Based Care
Statins Have Heart Benefits Beyond Lowering Cholesterol
While statins are primarily used to lower cholesterol, they are also associated with improved heart structure and function, according to research presented at EuroCMR 2017, which was held by the European Society of Cardiology, May 25-27, in Prague, Czech Republic.
While statins are primarily used to lower cholesterol, they are also associated with improved heart structure and function, according to research presented at EuroCMR 2017, which was held by the European Society of Cardiology, May 25-27, in Prague, Czech Republic.
According to the study’s lead author, Dr Nay Aung of Queen Mary University in London, United Kingdom, statins are also “highly effective in preventing cardiovascular events in patients who have had a heart attack or are at risk of heart disease.”
Small studies in humans have shown that statins reduce the thickness of the heart muscle and also improve the function of blood vessels, reduce inflammation, and stabilize fatty plaques in the blood vessels.
The study of 4622 people without cardiovascular disease assessed the relationship between statin use and heart structure and function. Nearly 17% of the participants were taking statins and they were more likely to be older, have higher body mass index and blood pressure, and have diabetes and hypertension.
“People using statins were less likely to have a thickened heart muscle (left ventricular hypertrophy) and less likely to have a large heart chamber,” Aung said in a statement. “Having a thick, large heart is a strong predictor of future heart attack, heart failure or stroke and taking statins appears to reverse the negative changes in the heart which, in turn, could lower the risk of adverse outcomes.”
However, the people taking statins were still at a higher risk of having heart problems compared with people not taking statins. While there are benefits beyond lowering cholesterol, statin prescribers should still identify people who will benefit the most from them.
“That means looking at not only clinical risk factors such as smoking and high blood pressure, but also genetic (hereditary) factors which can predict individuals’ response to statins,” Aung said. “This is an area of growing interest and one that we are also investigating in our lab with our collaborators.”
Semaglutide Linked to Cardiovascular Gains, but Also Higher Health Spending
August 8th 2025A real-world study found that semaglutide prescriptions were associated with improvements in weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol, but also a $80 monthly rise in health care spending outside of drug costs.
Read More
What It Takes to Improve Guideline-Based Heart Failure Care With Ty J. Gluckman, MD
August 5th 2025Explore innovative strategies to enhance heart failure treatment through guideline-directed medical therapy, remote monitoring, and artificial intelligence–driven solutions for better patient outcomes.
Listen
From Polypharmacy to Personalized Care: Dr Nihar Desai Discusses Holistic Cardiovascular Care
May 30th 2024In this episode of Managed Care Cast, Nihar Desai, MD, MPH, cardiologist and vice chief of Cardiology at the Yale School of Medicine, discusses therapies for cardiovascular conditions as they relate to patient adherence, polypharmacy, and health access.
Listen
