New calculator assesses individual risk of serious muscle disorders from statins.
Scientists at the University of Oxford have developed a calculator to predict the likelihood of serious muscle complications from statin medications for each person. Their analysis revealed that over 98% of people eligible for statins are at low risk for these rare side effects.
Statin Treatment Gap Remains
The study also identified a significant treatment gap, with more than 60% of eligible patients not taking statins despite facing a high risk of heart attack or stroke. The researchers believe the new calculator can enhance discussions between patients and clinicians by providing personalized risk estimates.
How the Calculator Works
The calculator analyzes 22 commonly collected health factors to estimate the probability of developing a serious muscle disorder over one, five, or 10 years. These factors include age, sex, ethnicity, body mass index, smoking status, pre-existing medical conditions, previous muscle problems, vitamin D deficiency, medication use, and statin prescription history.
