After a careful review of 17 years of statin studies, the European Atherosclerosis Society concluded that the potential benefits of statins outweigh the risks. Their consensus document, published online April 27, 2018, in the European Heart Journal, examined the incidence of several serious side effects attributed to statins and weighed them against the drugs benefits. Statins were associated with one case of new-onset diabetes per 1,000 patients per year, but prevent three to five new cardiovascular events per year in the same population. They found no evidence that statins have an adverse effect on cognitive function or cause Parkinsons disease, Alzheimers disease or any other form of dementia. Risk of harm to the kidneys is minor, because statins are largely metabolized by the liver. There was a small increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke in patients with a history of ischemic stroke who take high-dose atorvastatin, yet statin therapy significantly reduces the risk of ischemic stroke.
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