Researchers in Texas examined the association between statin use and new-onset diabetes, diabetic complications, and overweight/obesity in healthy adults. They found an increased risk for diabetes from taking statins. They also found more diabetic complications in those taking statins:
Statins and New-Onset Diabetes Mellitus and Diabetic Complications: A Retrospective Cohort Study of US Healthy Adults, Journal of General Internal Medicine, November 2015
Conclusions: Diabetes, diabetic complications, and overweight/obesity were more commonly diagnosed among statin-users than similar nonusers in a healthy cohort of adults. This study demonstrates that short-term clinical trials might not fully describe the risk/benefit of long-term statin use for primary prevention.
They tracked participants for 6.5 years. About 75% of the statin prescriptions were for simvastatin (trade name: Zocor).
Troy Brown, in an article in Medscape (Statins Linked to Diabetes and Complications in Healthy Adults:
After adjustment for confounding factors — including the fact those who used statins had more visits with healthcare providers than nonusers — those who took statins still had an 85% higher risk of developing new-onset diabetes (odds ratio [OR], 1.85) and more than double the risk of diabetes with complications (OR, 2.53), as well as in increase in overweight/obesity (OR, 1.12) compared with those who didn’t take statins.
The results also show that high-intensity statin therapy was associated with the highest risk of diabetes, diabetic complications, and overweight/obesity (adjusted ORs 2.55, 3.68, and 1.58, respectively), thereby demonstrating a dose–response relationship.
Lead author, Dr. Ishak Mansi, MD:
“I myself am a firm believer that these medications are very valuable for patients when there are clear and strict indications for them,” he said. “But knowing the risks may motivate a patient to quit smoking, rather than swallow a tablet, or to lose weight and exercise. Ideally, it is better to make those lifestyle changes and avoid taking statins if possible.”