Statins may suspend the development of diabetic retinopathy

According to experts from Chang Gun Memorial Hospital in Taiwan, diabetic patients taking statins have a reduced risk of diabetic retinopathy.

The researchers, based on information from the National Taiwan Health Insurance Policy Database, undertook a comparative analysis of patients with type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol, among whom about 19,000 patients took statins, the same amount didn’t take statins. Monitoring during 7 years found out that among participants who took statins diabetic retinopathy appeared in 2004 patients (10.6%), while in the group who did not take these drugs, the disease developed in 2269 participants (12%).

The experts also noted that the use of statins was associated not only with a lower demand in invasive treatment of eye diseases, but also with a reduced risk of diabetic retinopathy.

However, according to Dr. Seth Martin, a Johns Hopkins Medicine scientist, the results of this study require careful analysis and confirmation. He notes that the main reason for taking statins is to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, and the positive impact of these drugs on diabetic patient vision is an additional benefit.

Link: medvestnik.ru