Statins are proving that they may do more than lower heart-clogging cholesterol. In a recent study reported in the journal Diabetes Care, researchers found that cholesterol-lowering atorvastatin (Lipitor) reduced cardiovascular problems in people with type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.
Study findings confirmed that the use of Lipitor in patients with diabetes reduced the incidence of heart attacks or coronary bypass surgery by about a quarter, according to study researcher Dr. Neil R. Poulter of Imperial College, London.
The investigator and his colleagues examined data from a trial of more than 10,000 hypertensive patients with at least three cardiovascular risk factors, but without a previous history of coronary heart disease.
The researchers focused on the 2,532 participants who had diabetes at the start of the study. The subjects, who had mildly or moderately elevated cholesterol levels, were randomly assigned to take atorvastatin or a placebo pill.
After three years, researchers observed 151 (12 percent) major cardiovascular events in the placebo group and 116 (9 percent) in the Lipitor group--a significant reduction.
The research team suggests prescribing statin therapy routinely for people with diabetes, particularly older patients and those with a long history of the disease.
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