Statin use is associated with accelerated artery calcification in type two diabetes

This study was published in Diabetes Care 2012 Aug 8

 

Study title and authors:

Progression of Vascular Calcification Is Increased With Statin Use in the Veterans Affairs Diabetes Trial (VADT).

Saremi A, Bahn G, Reaven PD; for the VADT Investigators.

Phoenix VA Health Care System, Phoenix, Arizona.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22875226

The objective of the study was to determine the effect of statin use on progression of calcification in the arteries in type two diabetes. (The higher the calcification, the higher the risk of a cardiac event). The study included 197 participants with type two diabetes.

The study found:
(a) Coronary artery calcification was significantly higher in more frequent statin users than in less frequent users.
(b) Aortic artery calcification was higher in more frequent statin users than in less frequent users.
(c) In participants initially not receiving statins, progression of both coronary artery calcification and aortic artery calcification was significantly increased in frequent statin users.

More frequent statin use is associated with accelerated artery calcification in type two diabetes.