Heart medicine good for your legs
3 June 2006
Scientists have found that taking statins can help people who suffer from narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the legs, pelvis, heart and brain. As well as offering protection against heart attack and stroke, statins can reduce the need for leg amputation, artery bypass and artery widening surgery in patients who have peripheral arterial disease by 15%.
In 2001, analysis of 20,000 patients in the Medical Research Council / British Heart Foundation Heart Protection Study, found that people at risk of heart disease or stroke benefit from statins as a preventative measure.
Now researchers at the MRC Clinical Trial Service Unit in Oxford have further examined data from the 7,000 people in the study who had narrowed arteries from peripheral arterial disease. These people are at a greatly increased risk of heart disease and stroke as well as recurrent problems with their blood circulation.
The results show that statins reduced the risk of heart attack and stroke by 22% in people who have peripheral arterial disease, regardless of whether or not they had a pre-existing heart condition. Benefits occurred even in people whose initial cholesterol levels were not high (statins work by reducing levels of cholesterol in the blood stream).
The study authors conclude that people who have peripheral arterial disease should take statins because of the protection they offer from further complications.
Dr Louise Bowman, Heart Protection Study investigator, said: ‘‘These results provide clear evidence of the benefits of cholesterol lowering therapy with statins in patients with peripheral arterial disease. It shows that statins reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes by around a quarter and also reduce the risk of leg artery bypass surgery, angioplasties and amputations by around one-sixth. These benefits were seen regardless of patients’ baseline cholesterol levels”.
Dr Richard Bulbulia, vascular surgeon and Heart Protection Study investigator said: “This is an important result. Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a very common condition, affecting as many as 27 million people in Europe and North America. In general, every patient with PAD should take a statin to significantly reduce their risk of heart attacks, strokes and death. The large number of participants in this study has definitively shown that statins also help to prevent the development and progression of peripheral arterial disease.”
Dr Bulbulia will present these findings at the 60th Annual meeting of the Society for Vascular Surgery in Philadelphia on Saturday 3rd June. The study was co-funded by the Medical Research Council and the British Heart Foundation.
For further information contact:
Medical Research Council press office
Phone number: 020 7637 6011
Out of hours: 07818 428 297
British Heart Foundation press office
Phone number: 020 7487 7172
Out of hours: 07764 290 381
Notes to Editors:
About the Heart Protection Study
The Heart Protection Study, which is the world’s largest randomised controlled trial of cholesterol-lowering therapy, involved over 20,000 volunteers aged 40-80 years who were at risk of coronary heart disease. It included almost 7,000 people with PAD. These people are at a greatly increased risk of heart disease and stroke as well as recurrent problems with their peripheral circulation. Before HPS there was little evidence of benefit with cholesterol-lowering therapy in this group of patients. Participants were randomly allocated either 40mg daily simvastatin or matching dummy tablets, and study treatment and follow-up continued for around 5 years in 69 UK hospitals.
Medical Research Foundation
The Medical Research Council (MRC) is funded by the UK tax-payer. Its business is medical research aimed at improving human health. The research it supports and the scientists it trains meet the needs of the health services, the pharmaceutical and other health-related industries and the academic world. The MRC has funded work which has led to some of the most significant discoveries and achievements in medicine in the UK.
British Heart Foundation
The BHF is leading the battle against heart and circulatory disease - the UK's biggest killer. The Charity is a major funder and authority in cardiovascular research. It plays an important role in funding education, both of the public and of health professionals, and in providing life-saving cardiac equipment and support for rehabilitation and patient care. For more information about the BHF, visit their website.
