July 1, 2014

the science of statins

The row over the BMJ claims about side effects of statins and the angry response from some to NICE’s proposal to extend the drugs to people with a lower risk has led one columnist to refer to ‘The Statin Wars’. But has the truth become the first casualty of this particular war? As some doctors make claims about risks of patients on statins developing diabetes, cataracts, muscle disease etc., others argue the benefits of these cheap drugs outweigh the risks. In the middle of this dispute lie the public and patients, confused about where the evidence actually lies.

Speakers:

Prof George Davey Smith, Professor of Clinical Epidemiology, University of Bristol

Prof Liam Smeeth, Professor of Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology, LSHTM

Prof Adam Timmis, Professor of Clinical Cardiology, Barts and the London NHS Trust

Prof Peter Weissberg, Medical Director, British Heart Foundation

Prof Rory Collins, Head of the Nuffield Department of Population Health and BHF Professor of Medicine & Epidemiology

Prof John Deanfield, BHF Professor of Cardiology, UCL