Domestic Medical Staff Demonstrate Importance of Continuous Statin Use for Diabetes Patients

Research by Professor Kim Nam-hoon’s Team at Korea University Anam Hospital
30% Fewer Cardiovascular Diseases in Patients Taking Statins for 18 Months

Professor Namhoon Kim, Department of Endocrinology, Korea University Anam Hospital.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] Domestic medical professionals have demonstrated the importance of continuous use of the treatment drug 'Statin,' prescribed to patients with type 2 diabetes.

Professor Nam-Hoon Kim's team from the Department of Endocrinology at Korea University Anam Hospital recently confirmed on the 26th that the longer the duration of statin use, the lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. This finding highlights the importance of continuous statin use, especially as some patients arbitrarily discontinue their statin medication.

Statins are oral medications used for dyslipidemia and reduce the incidence and mortality of cardiovascular diseases. Since type 2 diabetes is often accompanied by dyslipidemia and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease compared to healthy individuals, domestic and international clinical guidelines recommend lifelong statin use for patients with type 2 diabetes.

In a study conducted on 8,937 type 2 diabetes patients registered in the National Health Insurance Service health screening cohort, Professor Kim's team found that patients who took statins for at least 18 months experienced over 30% fewer major cardiovascular events (ischemic heart disease, ischemic stroke, and cardiovascular death) compared to those who took statins for 3 to 6 months.

Furthermore, when comparing statin intensity, LDL cholesterol levels after treatment, and duration of statin use, the duration of use was found to have the greatest impact on major cardiovascular events compared to other factors.

Professor Kim explained, "In clinical practice, many patients who have stopped taking statins are often seen, and this study is significant in revealing the importance of continuous statin use."

The results of this study were published in the internationally renowned journal Cardiovascular Diabetology (IF: 9.95).

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