29/06/2026 16:58 - Salud
Muscle disorders represent one of the most feared adverse effects of statin treatment, causing concern among both patients and doctors when prescribing these fundamental medications for cardiovascular prevention. This worry has led to doubts and even the unjustified interruption of treatment in patients who should be taking them to prevent heart attacks and strokes.
Researchers from the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences at the University of Oxford (UK) have developed a new calculator that estimates the risk of a person developing severe muscle disorders due to statins. The tool, available through the Oxford University Innovation software store, allows patients and doctors to make more informed decisions.
The research published in The Lancet Digital Health revealed that more than 98% of people identified by their general practitioners as candidates for statin treatment presented a low risk of suffering severe muscle disorders over the next decade.
The study also evidenced a significant treatment gap: more than 60% of people eligible for statins were not taking them, despite some presenting a high risk of heart attack or stroke.
The model is based on 22 factors routinely recorded in medical histories:
The tool estimates the risk of suffering severe muscle disorders over periods of one, five, and ten years, and is designed to be used alongside cardiovascular assessment tools like QRISK.
Researchers used anonymized medical records from more than 5.6 million people registered in primary care centers across England:
| Group | Number of People | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Model Development | 1,785,207 | Create the predictive algorithm |
| External Validation | 3,889,504 | Verify accuracy |
| Total Analyzed | 5,674,711 | Complete database |
The study included men aged 50 or older and women aged 60 or older, followed within the period 1998-2018, using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) database.
Statins are widely prescribed medications to reduce LDL cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein), known as "bad cholesterol." They can reduce it by up to 60%, significantly decreasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Common active ingredients:
It is important to distinguish between:
Mild muscle pain, generally not caused by statins.
Muscle disorder causing pain, weakness, and fatigue.
Severe condition where muscle tissue breaks down, releasing toxins into the blood. Rate below 0.1%.
Close to 30% of Argentine adults have total cholesterol above recommended values, according to estimates from the Ministry of Health of the nation.
Only 16% of high-risk patients manage to reach recommended LDL values, according to the Argentine Society of Lipids (Sociedad Argentina de Lípidos).
Ting Cai, Oxford Researcher:
"Severe muscle disorders are one of the most debated concerns regarding statins, but our findings suggest the risk is very low for the vast majority of people who could benefit from treatment."
Dr. Steve Nissen, Cleveland Clinic:
"In over 40 years of practice, I have never had to hospitalize a patient due to severe muscle complications caused by statins."
Prof. Bart Duell, Oregon University:
"Even assuming a ten times higher risk, this is still a very small percentage and not a reason to reject statin treatment."
Dr. Juan Pablo Costabel, ICBA (Argentina):
"Statins are one of the most studied drugs in medicine and have consistently demonstrated a reduction in the risk of heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death."
The new calculator represents a significant advancement for personalized medicine, allowing for more informed conversations between doctors and patients. Experts agree that the fear of side effects should not be a reason to abandon a treatment that can save lives.
If any muscle symptoms occur during statin treatment, it is recommended to consult a doctor, who can evaluate the real cause of muscle pain and adjust treatment if necessary. Many mild muscle symptoms are not caused by statins and should not prevent patients from starting or continuing treatment.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
