No doubt there will be those who dismiss this study on the grounds that it is based on individuals who have prepared their own reports and that they cannot be validated and may be biased. Even allowing for some inaccuracies, the information here provides valuable insight into what is happening in the real world. There is plenty of evidence to demonstrate that the reporting of adverse side effects to drugs is minimal. This report confirms that many clinicians are not interested and may even be in denial when it comes to identifying these reactions. The rather widespread failure to recognise the impact of statins on the normal and essential metabolic pathways is unbelievable.
Many people who are being prescribed statins would be shocked to learn about the information in this report. NICE accepts that 77 people have to be on statins for 3 years for one person to benefit (2), which according to Malcolm Kendrick is an extra 6 months of life (3). This only applies to those who have had previous heart disease. For others the benefits are even less but the side effects are the same are the same. How many patients would agree to statins if they were made aware of this information at the outset?
No comments:
Post a Comment