Anandita Agarwala Kulkarni, MD, Baylor Scott & White Medical Center talks about a first-of-its kind study to know how beneficial statins really are.
Interview conducted by Ivanhoe Broadcast News in February 2022.
What are statins?
DR KULKARNI: Statins are some of the most widely prescribed cholesterol- lowering medicines. They were introduced on the market in 1987. Since that time, we’ve had quite a large number of clinical trials with excellent high-quality data that have shown their benefits in reducing the risk of heart disease as well as their safety.
Who needs statins and why?
DR KULKARNI: Statins are generally indicated in patients who have a diagnosis of high cholesterol, heart disease, or even those who are at an increased risk for heart disease.
They are called the miracle drug. Why is that the case?
DR KULKARNI: I generally hesitate to call anything a miracle drug. Every drug has its risks and benefits. When we decide to prescribe a medication, it is with the understanding that the benefits would outweigh the risk. That said, statins have had a remarkable impact on preventing and reducing the burden of heart disease, which is the number one cause of death in men and women.
Some experts believe that everyone basically over a certain age should be taking a low dose of statin. If that’s the case, why?
DR KULKARNI: While it wouldn’t make a blanket statement about all individuals over a certain age, we know that age is a risk factor for many chronic medical conditions, including heart disease. In patients who are at risk for these conditions, statins have been shown to be beneficial. However, there is a gap in our knowledge, specifically in patients who are at or over the age of 75 years. That’s an area that we’re actively looking into investigating.
What are the benefits of statins?
DR KULKARNI: Statins have several benefits. The main ones are lowering cholesterol, specifically the bad cholesterol that causes heart disease, as well as reducing the overall risk of heart disease.
What are some of the risks?
DR KULKARNI: As expected, with any medicine, there will be risks and benefits. Statins are generally well tolerated by most patients. However, not everybody responds to statins or any therapy within the expected manner and people can have different side effects. It’s an important discussion for any individual to have with their clinician if they’re going to start a new medical therapy.
Tell me about the Preventable study?
DR KULKARNI: Preventable is a large research study that’s focused on adults who are at the age of 75 years or older. The purpose is to find out whether taking a statin could help prevent dementia, disability, or heart disease. Individuals who qualify to participate will be randomly assigned to a statin or a placebo pill and will undergo assessments for cognitive and physical function.
This is one of the largest studies of its kind?
DR KULKARNI: The Preventable study is, in fact, one of the largest studies of its kind. We are looking to enroll approximately 20,000 patients across 100 clinical sites in the United States.
Who can take part? How do they take part?
DR KULKARNI: Any healthy adults at or above the age of 75 years can potentially participate in the study. Anyone who’s interested in participating can learn more about the study on our website at www.preventabletrial.org. If you’re here within the DFW Metroplex, we have an outstanding research coordinator named Portia Hall who can be contacted directly via phone. Her number is 214-865-3158. What’s important here is optimizing your health and quality of life. Our research studies are geared towards improving quality of life and outcomes for our patients, but there will always be more than just taking a medicine. It’s important to eat healthy and stay physically and mentally active.
This study is unique. Why is that?
DR KULKARNI: Preventable is unique in that we’re targeting adults at or above the age of 75 years. We’re also focusing on an important metric like cognitive function that hasn’t systematically been assessed in this manner. One thing that’s exciting about preventable is that it’s something that we call a pragmatic trial. We’re recruiting both within patient clinics, as well as in the community setting to make it convenient for everyone to participate. What that means is that much of the study can be conducted by phone and study materials can be sent to patients’ homes.
What do you hope to find from the course of this study?
DR KULKARNI: We hope to find out whether taking a statin will be beneficial in older adults with regards to dementia, disability, and heart disease.
What do you think you’ll see?
DR KULKARNI: Prior studies have demonstrated promising findings with regards to statin use. We always strive to achieve the best for our patients, and this study will provide us with more clarity on the indications for statin use in our older patients. The knowledge that we gain from this study will be beneficial not only to the medical community but also to our patients at large.
Is there anything I didn’t ask you about the study, statins, heart disease?
DR KULKARNI: We just went through a very brief overview of the preventable study. Of course, there’s several nuances and details that we didn’t have a chance to discuss. I’m sure that people may have more questions about it, so I would encourage anyone who is interested once again to go to our website www.preventabletrial.org.
END OF INTERVIEW
This information is intended for additional research purposes only. It is not to be used as a prescription or advice from Ivanhoe Broadcast News, Inc. or any medical professional interviewed. Ivanhoe Broadcast News, Inc. assumes no responsibility for the depth or accuracy of physician statements. Procedures or medicines apply to different people and medical factors; always consult your physician on medical matters.
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