Comments on: Should you routinely treat an elevated CRP with Crestor? http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/11/should-you-routinely-treat-elevated-crp.html Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:05:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/11/should-you-routinely-treat-elevated-crp.html#comment-88089 Anonymous Thu, 13 Nov 2008 02:32:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/11/should-you-routinely-treat-an-elevated-crp-with-crestor.html#comment-88089 I think this is vastly oversold. NNT 120. Not with a risk of developing diabetes near that. Statins have side effects. The issue of the spike in premature deaths in statin patients has never been clarified. I think that the way this is being spun is just a great big drug ad. How many patients would really accept this given the NNT, fully apprised of the side effect (and the fact that they may not all be known), and paying with their own money? Not many I bet.<br/><br/>Perhaps I am biased. Been there, done that with the statin thing. Nearly killed me. I am sure that I am not the only one. Having a heart attack would be better than the slow brain rot I had from the statin. I think this is vastly oversold. NNT 120. Not with a risk of developing diabetes near that. Statins have side effects. The issue of the spike in premature deaths in statin patients has never been clarified. I think that the way this is being spun is just a great big drug ad. How many patients would really accept this given the NNT, fully apprised of the side effect (and the fact that they may not all be known), and paying with their own money? Not many I bet.

Perhaps I am biased. Been there, done that with the statin thing. Nearly killed me. I am sure that I am not the only one. Having a heart attack would be better than the slow brain rot I had from the statin.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/11/should-you-routinely-treat-elevated-crp.html#comment-88051 Anonymous Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:16:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/11/should-you-routinely-treat-an-elevated-crp-with-crestor.html#comment-88051 Dr. K. - reading your posts I sometimes wonder if you even understand the difference between relative risk and absolute risk.<br/><br/>“120 participants were treated for 1.9 years to prevent one event.”<br/><br/>So if I were in this group and I were to take a statin, it'll translate in about 1/120 chance in 1.9 years of benefitting me. What are the chances of my experiencing a side effect that would affect my quality of life as a result? Are they really that much smaller than this?<br/><br/>I wonder, when you talk to your patients do you also use this totally meaningless relative risk reduction numbers? Or do you explain absolute chance of them benefiting? Dr. K. – reading your posts I sometimes wonder if you even understand the difference between relative risk and absolute risk.

“120 participants were treated for 1.9 years to prevent one event.”

So if I were in this group and I were to take a statin, it’ll translate in about 1/120 chance in 1.9 years of benefitting me. What are the chances of my experiencing a side effect that would affect my quality of life as a result? Are they really that much smaller than this?

I wonder, when you talk to your patients do you also use this totally meaningless relative risk reduction numbers? Or do you explain absolute chance of them benefiting?

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/11/should-you-routinely-treat-elevated-crp.html#comment-88050 Anonymous Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:41:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/11/should-you-routinely-treat-an-elevated-crp-with-crestor.html#comment-88050 <i>There have also been epidemiological studies that showed those on statins had a reduced risk of prostate and breast cancer</i><br/>None of these studies were conclusive.... Before these studies were those that showed increased risk, than there were those that showed no effect. <br/><br/>Before you tell about possible cancer benefit to your patients, maybe you should wait for some real evidence like RCTs? There have been plenty of observational studies that showed benefits of HRT too. There have also been epidemiological studies that showed those on statins had a reduced risk of prostate and breast cancer
None of these studies were conclusive…. Before these studies were those that showed increased risk, than there were those that showed no effect.

Before you tell about possible cancer benefit to your patients, maybe you should wait for some real evidence like RCTs? There have been plenty of observational studies that showed benefits of HRT too.

]]> By: Doc99http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/11/should-you-routinely-treat-elevated-crp.html#comment-88031 Doc99 Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:53:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/11/should-you-routinely-treat-an-elevated-crp-with-crestor.html#comment-88031 Other than Evil Pharma, what other sources of funding are made available for these studies? Just asking ... Other than Evil Pharma, what other sources of funding are made available for these studies? Just asking …

]]> By: Dr. Khttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/11/should-you-routinely-treat-elevated-crp.html#comment-88029 Dr. K Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:36:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/11/should-you-routinely-treat-an-elevated-crp-with-crestor.html#comment-88029 Sure I think it would be wise. There have also been epidemiological studies that showed those on statins had a reduced risk of prostate and breast cancer. Statins inhibit the mevalonate pathway which means more than cholesterol synthesis. Part of that pathway is responsible for prenylation which activates cell signalling proteins such as Ras and Rho. These proteins are involved in mediating the effect of inflammatory cytokines such as Il-8 and CRP. Although the makers of Crestor are going to make a big deal about this effect being specific for Crestor, all statins inhibit the mevalonate pathway so, generic statins should work just as well and are much more affordable. Please see my blog at www.takingcontrolofyourhealthcare.com. Sure I think it would be wise. There have also been epidemiological studies that showed those on statins had a reduced risk of prostate and breast cancer. Statins inhibit the mevalonate pathway which means more than cholesterol synthesis. Part of that pathway is responsible for prenylation which activates cell signalling proteins such as Ras and Rho. These proteins are involved in mediating the effect of inflammatory cytokines such as Il-8 and CRP. Although the makers of Crestor are going to make a big deal about this effect being specific for Crestor, all statins inhibit the mevalonate pathway so, generic statins should work just as well and are much more affordable. Please see my blog at http://www.takingcontrolofyourhealthcare.com.

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