Statins are lipid-lowering tablets taken by
many to reduce high cholesterol
Statins may significantly cut the risk
of dying from four of the most common cancers, research has suggested.
Scientists
have found the number of deaths among cancer patients diagnosed with high
cholesterol see “striking” reductions following treatment with the
cholesterol-lowering drugs.
A
study has found that those diagnosed with high cholesterol have a 43 per cent
lower risk of dying from breast cancer, 47 per cent from prostate cancer, 30
per cent from bowel cancer and 22 per cent from lung cancer.
The study
evaluated health records of close to a million cancer patients admitted to UK
hospitals between January 2000 and March 2013. The data was then compared with
mortality figures obtained from the Office for National Statistics.
The
findings support previous research indicating that statins may offer protection
to cancer patients. The scientists said that the tests indicate the blocking of
the hormone oestrogen, which causes high cholesterol through statins, could
slow cancer growth dramatically.
The
researchers have called for further studies on the cholesterol-lowering drugs
in light of the findings.
Dr
Paul Carter, from Aston University in Birmingham, UK, who presented the new
findings at a cardiovascular conference, said: “Our research suggests that there's
something about having a high cholesterol diagnosis that improves survival and
the extent to which it did that was quite striking in the four cancers studied.
“Based
on previous research we think there's a very strong possibility that statins
are producing this effect.”
Dr Rahul Potluri, from Aston
University which conducted the investigation, said: “Statins have some of the
best mortality evidence amongst all cardiovascular medications and statin use
in patients with a diagnosis of high cholesterol is possibly the main reason
that this diagnosis appears to be protective against death in patients with
lung, breast, prostate and bowel cancer.
Lead
researcher Dr Lesley-Ann Martin added: “This is hugely significant.”
Representative
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Source: Independent
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