STATINS-THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL DRUG OF OUR TIMES: A COMMENTARY

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide.Atheroscelerotic cardiovascular disease(ASCVD) is also a leading cause of death and disability. Statins can reduce the risk and prevent heart diseases. One of the best studied medication and in randomized controlled trials have been proven to reduce the no of Heart attacks and stroke even in individuals with normal cholesterol levels. A small no of individuals may develop Diabetes on statins.The benefit from lowering the risk of death, heart attack and stroke are likely to outweigh the development of diabetes in those individuals. The beneficial effects of statins may not only be due to the cholesterol lowering effects but also due to cholesterol independent or pleiotropic effects. These benefits include endothelial protective functions, enhancing stability of atherosclerotic plaques and inhibiting vascular smooth muscle proliferation and platelet aggregation. It remains to be seen to what extent these pleiotropic benefits of statin therapy can be attributed beyond cholesterol lowering