Statins are associated with decreased myocardial function

This study was published in Clinical Cardiology 2009 Dec;32(12):684-9

 

Study title and authors:

Statin therapy decreases myocardial function as evaluated via strain imaging.

Rubinstein J, Aloka F, Abela GS.

Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20027659

The myocardium is the heart's muscular wall. It contracts to pump blood out of the heart, then relaxes as the heart refills with returning blood. This vital function pumps blood to the cells and tissues of the body. A decrease in myocardial function is associated with angina see here and a chronic impairment of blood flow is associated with heart failure see here.

This study sought to identify changes in myocardial function associated with statin use in 28 patients without heart disease. The myocardial function of 12 patients that were on statin therapy were compared with 16 controls who were not taking statins.

The study found that statin therapy is associated with decreased myocardial function.