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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Statins may have an undesirable effect on seniors.
Researchers from the University of Toronto found the drugs are associated with a 28-percent increased risk of postoperative delirium in elderly patients.
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The study analyzed data from more than 280,000 elderly patients who had elective surgery in Ontario and got two or more prescriptions for statins during the year before their surgery, including at least one prescription in the 90 days before the operation. Many of the patients took more than one medication and had surgery with a mean duration of about 115 minutes.
Results show one in 14 elderly patients were taking statins before surgery and one in 90 had delirium. Longer surgeries and being older than age 70 increased the risk.
Delirium causes anxiety in patients, and can also lead to longer hospital stays, a longer need of intensive care, and can disrupt and delay care.
Researchers did not find the same link to delirium from other lipid-lowering drugs, cardiovascular medications or other common drugs. They suggest patients stop taking statins temporarily before surgery to lower their risk. And if they need to, they can start taking the drugs again after surgery to protect their hearts without the risk of delirium.
SOURCE: Canadian Medical Association Journal, 2008
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