Cholesterol lowering drugs may increase your risk of diabetes and skin infections

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Taking statins for as little as three months to try to lower your cholesterol, could increase your risks of skin and soft tissue infections and diabetes, according to Australian research. The study examined prescription claims from 2001 to 2011 from the Australian Department of Veterans’ Affairs, and found that while diabetes is a risk factor for developing skin infections, the increased risk of infection was seen even in people who did not develop diabetes.

Journal/conference: British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology

Organisation/s: Curtin University

Funder: N/A

Media Release

From: Wiley-Blackwell

Statins Linked to Higher Risk of Diabetes and Skin Infections

Statins have been reported to be beneficial for infections such as pneumonia and Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia. In the case of skin and soft tissue infections however, statin use is ironically associated with an increased risk of developing diabetes, which is a risk factor for such infections. In a British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology study, statin use for as little as 91 days was linked with elevated risks of skin and soft tissue infections and diabetes. The increased risk of infection was seen in individuals who did and did not develop diabetes.

The study examined prescription claims from 2001 to 2011 from the Australian Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

"We feel the results reinforce the need for clinicians to be aware that statin use may be associated with diabetes, as well as a possible increased risk of skin infections," said lead author Humphrey Ko, of Curtin University in Australia.

Peer Reviewed                       Data analysis              Human

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