Insight on the side effects of lipid lowering agents [Statin] in Iraqi patients with ischemic heart diseases

ABSTRACT

3-hydroxy-3 methyl glutaryl co enzyme inhibitor [MMG-COA] [statin] is a very common drug used in many medical conditions regardless of the presence or absence of dyslipidemia. One of these conditions is the cardiac disorders. Throwing a light on the prevalence of their side effects in Iraqi patients. Two hundred seventy patients with ischemic heart disease from the period of November 2006-November 2007 referred to Baghdad teaching hospital [the medical city]. Those cases were using statin and grouped into two groups. Group A patients admitted with acute coronary syndrome [myocardial infarction and unstable angina] [230 patients 77%]. Group B patients with associated risk factors [Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking and secondary lipidemia] 40 cases 23%, have history of ischemic heart disease on treatment they use the drug in range of [10-40] daily with review monthly for the side effects. All 270 cases were free from other organic disorders [i.e. renal, thyroid, malignancy, or any longstanding disease]. All patients went through a questionnaire which includes age, gender, risk factors [Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking, and lipidemia], routine blood tests, lipid profile, liver function tests, C-reactive proteins, thyroid function tests, chest X-ray, electrocardiography and echocardiography done for all patients, all patients used to take drugs in the range of 10-40mg daily for at least one year. The side effects noticed in this study were gastric, musculoskeletal, elevated liver enzymes [40%, 28.9%, and 1% respectively from the total number of patients]. Other side effects in other systems like skin, respiratory, and cardiac were not encountered. This study showed that the side effects of statin were not involving all the body systems