Statins, that lower cholesterol, might protect the heart from chemotherapy-induced heart problems
Among the many side effects of chemotherapy for breast cancer, heart problem is a major one, which can now be prevented with use of statins. Statins are a class of medications commonly used to lower cholesterol levels in people with high risk of heart diseases, due to its high levels. In women who undergo chemotherapy for breast cancer, these medications have been found to lower the risk of heart failure, a types of heart ailment, caused when the heart fails to pump enough blood to cater to the body’s need.
These results were revealed in a study that compared the medication histories of women who had breast cancer with the ones who did not have. It was found that a greater number of women who were not taking statins developed breast cancer when compared to the women who were taking statins for some medical issues. So, the researchers concluded that statins might protect the heart from the adverse effects of the chemotherapy given for breast cancer.
The result, although from a small study, can have a huge implication for women who are denied chemotherapy for breast cancer, due to a pre-existing heart ailment. In near future, medical oncologist might consider adding statins to the treatment plan for chemotherapy in women with breast cancer.
Source: Husam Abdel‐Qadir, David Bobrowski, Limei Zhou, Peter C. Austin, Oscar Calvillo‐Argüelles, Eitan Amir, Douglas S. Lee, Paaladinesh Thavendiranathan. Statin Exposure and Risk of Heart Failure After Anthracycline‐ or Trastuzumab‐Based Chemotherapy for Early Breast Cancer: A Propensity Score‒Matched Cohort Study. Journal of the American Heart Association, 2021; DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.119.018393
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