Statin Denial: An Internet-Driven Cult With Deadly Consequences
Authors: Steven E. Nissen
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2018)

Letters6 March 2018Statin Denial: An Internet-Driven Cult With Deadly ConsequencesSteven E. Nissen, MDSteven E. Nissen, MDCleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio (S.E.N.)Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/L17-0626 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail IN RESPONSE:Dr. Bamji's comment reflects the typical perspective offered by statin denial cults. That he acknowledges membership in a notorious organization known as The International Network of Cholesterol Skeptics is not surprising. Inquisitive readers should visit the Web site of this pseudoscientific organization, which promotes a book entitled Fat and Cholesterol Don't Cause Heart Attacks and Statins Are Not the Solution (1). The Web site asks visitors, “Have you had any side effects from statin treatment?” and offers referral to a medical malpractice law firm. Such fringe organizations choose to ignore the massive body of evidence on the effects ...References1. THINCS: The International Network of Cholesterol Skeptics. 2014. Accessed at www.thincs.org on 30 January 2018. Google Scholar2. Baigent C, Blackwell L, Emberson J, Holland LE, Reith C, Bhala N, et al; Cholesterol Treatment Trialists' (CTT) Collaboration. Efficacy and safety of more intensive lowering of LDL cholesterol: a meta-analysis of data from 170,000 participants in 26 randomised trials. Lancet. 2010;376:1670-81. [PMID: 21067804] doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(10)61350-5 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Demicheli V, Jefferson T, Al-Ansary LA, Ferroni E, Rivetti A, Di Pietrantonj C. Vaccines for preventing influenza in healthy adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014:CD001269. [PMID: 24623315] doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001269.pub5 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Nissen SE, Stroes E, Dent-Acosta RE, Rosenson RS, Lehman SJ, Sattar N, et al; GAUSS-3 Investigators. Efficacy and tolerability of evolocumab vs ezetimibe in patients with muscle-related statin intolerance: the GAUSS-3 randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2016;315:1580-90. [PMID: 27039291] doi:10.1001/jama.2016.3608 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio (S.E.N.)Disclosures: Disclosures can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M17-1566. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoStatin Denial: An Internet-Driven Cult With Deadly Consequences Steven E. Nissen Statin Denial: An Internet-Driven Cult With Deadly Consequences Andrew Bamji Statin Denial: An Internet-Driven Cult With Deadly Consequences Dena S. Davis Metrics Cited byAssessment and management of statin-associated muscle symptoms (SAMS): A clinical perspective from the National Lipid AssociationPharmacoepidemiology of statins 6 March 2018Volume 168, Issue 5Page: 381-382KeywordsCholesterolClinical trialsDisclosureMedical lawMusclesNumber needed to treatRandomized trialsRelative riskStatinsVascular diseases ePublished: 6 March 2018 Issue Published: 6 March 2018 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2018 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...