By Stephen Adams
The Telegraph
Excerpts:
Taking strong doses of simvastatin, atorvastatin or rosuvastatin increases the risk of being hospitalised with a condition called acute kidney injury, or AKI, by 34 per cent on average, found the Canadian team. AKI is when the kidneys “suddenly fail to work as they should”, according to the Kidney Alliance, and causes anywhere between 62,000 and 210,000 deaths a year in Britain.
The vast majority take simvastatin, the cheapest type, although some take others including atorvastatin, better known by its brand name Lipitor, and rosuvastatin, sold as Crestor. These latter two are more potent, requiring smaller doses for the same effect. Doctors prescribe different strengths depending on the patient’s cholesterol – the higher the level, the stronger the dose.
Researchers at the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research in Quebec defined high-doses as 40mg+ for simvastatin, 20mg+ for atorvastatin, and 10mg+ for rosuvastatin. After analysing the health records of two million Canadians, they found that among people without chronic kidney disease, those taking high-dose statins were at a 34 per cent increased risk of hospitalisation for AKI, compared to those taking low-dose statins.
Read the Full Article Here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9941391/High-dose-statins-raise-risk-of-serious-kidney-problems.html
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