New study suggests statin use could prevent amputations

Researchers recently conducted a new study that looked into the benefits of the long-term use of statins and found that patients with Peripheral artery disease (PAD) who take the cholesterol-lowering drug may have a lesser risk of amputation.

Lead researcher, Shipra Arya from Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia, states that “PAD, a narrowing of the peripheral arteries to the legs, stomach, arms and head, is the next cardiovascular epidemic,” and feels there is a lack of research into the link between PAD and the use of statins.

Peripheral artery disease is primarily caused by fatty plaque buildup in the arteries and occurs more commonly in the legs increasing the risk of leg amputations.

According to U.S. News and World Report, the study involved analyzing health data from more than 20,000 patients with PAD from the Veterans Affairs’ database and were followed up on an average period of just over 5 years assessing their risk of amputation and death.

The PAD participants of the study were separated into three groups – one that took a high amount of statins, one that took a low to moderate amount, and the final group not using statins at all.

What they found was that people taking statins for PAD had a 33 percent lower risk of amputation and a 29 percent lower risk of death than those not taking the drugs. The team even conclude that a higher dosage of statins could actually lower the risk even further.

“Ours is one of the largest population-based studies on PAD and suggests patients who have been diagnosed with PAD should be considered for placement on high dose statins upon diagnosis if they can tolerate it, along with other medical management, including smoking cessation, antiplatelet therapy and a walking program,”

The findings were presented at an American Heart Association meeting in Nashville and await to be peer-reviewed and published.