A new study has revealed that cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins decrease the risk of amputation and death in patients who have peripheral artery disease (PAD) compared to PAD patients who don't take statins. Furthermore, the data suggests that the higher the dose of the statins, the lower the risks that patients face.
"PAD, a narrowing of the peripheral arteries to the legs, stomach, arms and head, is the next cardiovascular epidemic," said Shipra Arya of the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Ga., and lead author of the study. "It is poorly recognized and not adequately treated compared to heart disease - and research is lacking on the optimal use of statins for PAD patients."
The team examined the health information and health status of over 208,000 veterans with PAD from the Veterans Affairs' database. They then identified those on statin medications, as well as the dose, during the follow up, which was an average of 5.2 years long
In particular, the team looked at those that received a PAD diagnosis around the time they were on statins and determined their risk of amputation or death. Veterans were organized into three groups: those on high doses of statins, those on moderate to low doses and those on no statins.
The results revealed that PAD patients taking high doses of statins were at a 33 percent lower risk of amputation and 29 percent lower risk of death compared to those taking no statins. Furthermore, PAD patients on low to moderate doses of statins were at a 22 percent lower risk of amputation and death compared to PAD patients taking no statins.
"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," said Arya, who also works as a staff physician at Atlanta V.A. Medical Center.
The findings were presented at the American Heart Association's Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology | Peripheral Vascular Disease 2016 Scientific Sessions.
