Rheumatoid Arthritis Medication Could Be a Life-Saver

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis could be putting their lives at risk if they stop taking their prescribed statin therapy.

Statins, which are used to lower cholesterol and manage heart disease, are normally given to those patients who are at high risk of cardiovascular disease, which has been associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

Research shows that patients who stop using their statin medication could increase their risk of a heart attack by a staggering 67 percent.

Previous studies have shown that 38 per cent of patients stop using their statin medication, despite medical advice.

Researchers involved in the most recent study showing the risk, believe the results provide evidence of the harmful effects stopping the medication can have.

The study used data from the British Columbia Ministry of Health records and researchers identified 37,151 rheumatoid arthritis patients who had used health services between 1996 and 2006.

A total of 4,102 used statins and 45 percent of those stopped taking their statin medication at least once in four years. There were 198 deaths from cardiovascular disease, 31 per cent from heart attacks and 15 percent from strokes.

There are many studies that look at the side effects of medications used to treat arthritis, many have negative results, but the latest study shows that stopping statin medication could put you at risk of a different health issue.

Researchers believe the study shows the importance of continuing to take statin medications where prescribed as cardiovascular disease remains one of the leading causes of death among rheumatoid arthritis sufferers.

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