José Luis López Sendón

Statins are a group of drugs widely used to lower cholesterol levels and reduce cardiovascular risk. Although they have been associated with various adverse effects, a meta-analysis of 19 clinical trials with more than 120,000 participants in total concludes that only four of the 66 side effects listed in the package inserts are caused by statins themselves and the risks are very low. The authors, who published their findings in The Lancet, recommend revising the current list of side effects on statin labels to better reflect the evidence so that patients and doctors can make clearer and more informed decisions about treatment.

A review conducted by the Cochrane Collaboration analyzed the effects of colchicine—a medication commonly used to treat some rheumatic diseases—on people who had already experienced a cardiovascular event. The review included 12 clinical trials with more than 23,000 patients and concluded that colchicine reduces the risk of stroke or heart attack in these individuals. Overall, for every 1,000 people treated, there were 9 fewer heart attacks and 8 fewer strokes compared to those who did not take the medication, with no apparent serious side effects.