Hello. I'm new to this forum. I am 72 years old and have been taking Apixaban for the last 7 years for my AF. As a result, I have regular blood tests for my kidney function. Until recently my GFR score has always been over 60. My GP informed me last week that it had dropped to 58 which puts me in the Stage 3 CKD category. He suggested it was time I thought about taking statins. Thing is, I always thought statins were for high cholesterol which I didn't have when last tested. Also, my blood pressure is in a normal range, the systolic varying between 120 and 130. To add to that, I read that statins can have a detrimental effect on your kidney function and so I'm reluctant to consent to something that is going to lower my GFR even quicker. I am aware though that there is a push to get people onto statins who have an over 10% risk of having a cardiac event in the next 10 years. He asked me for a urine sample which I have provided, but I will ask for another cholesterol test before I consent to statins. I have found this all a bit worrying and am asking what advice anyone may have who has been in a similar popsition.
thanks
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Alan_G
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Hi Alan, I've been fighting against taking statins, but my cholesterol was high. I eventually caved in when my cholesterol kept creeping up. I started a low dose of Rosuvastatin (5mgs). Within a month my cholesterol was low and I have now started taking it on alternate days (my decision) I haven't had my kidney function test back yet so don't know the effect on my GFR. Some reports say that reducing cholesterol reduces pressure on the kidneys and improves kidney function. Apparently statins can be prescribed if you are considered high risk of heart disease or stroke due to smoking etc even if you don't have high cholesterol.
Thanks for the replay. I forgot to mention I am not overweight, do not smoke, exercise regularly, do not have diabetes and have what I consider a sensible diet. I do drink anywhere between 20 and 30 units of alcohol a week though but I've never seen it mentioned anywhere that cutting down on alcohol is a lifestyle change you can make for kidney function. That said, I am going to try and get consistently down to 20 units.
I'm the same, although I don't drink, I do smoke six cigarettes a day. I don't eat saturated or trans fats either, but the prescriber said raised cholesterol can be familial and not necessarily related to diet. I believe some types of kidney disorder can increase the risk of arteriosclerosis, and a statin would reduce the risk of this. From what I've read it seems people at risk of arteriosclerosis should have a total cholesterol level of no more than 4 mmol.
Alcohol most definitely has an effect on kidney function. Your liver doesn't do all the work and it can cause spikes in blood pressure, actual kidney damage etc. This article refers to the danger for HEALTHY kidneys:
It is most certainly a danger for sick kidneys. Quitting drinking and reducing medications I'm on was the first thing I tackled when I learned I have one kidney & ckd.
Not sure if 20-30 units means 20 servings or 20 ounces...If it's drinks, I used to drink that much when I was yougner and I'm convinced it's why I have CKD. (I didn't know I only had one kidney)... And if its drinks, it's a lot. You deserve better health and to live a long time, drinking far less will benefit your organs
And when you do go on statins etc, drinking on those drugs, which are mostly excreted by the liver, can cause permanent damage. Please be safe
Here in US there is a non statin Medicine for high cholesterol. It is Zetia (generic ezetimibe), which was prescribed for me. It is working for me and no effect on my kidneys. I was diagnosed at CKD level 3b. I too am a senior.
I took a statin in the late 90s. I had horrific muscle pain. I stopped it and refused to take it again. unfortunately, my arteries clogged, and I had a heart attack and had stents put in. I still won't' take a statin but my doctor put me on Repatha and it seems to be working.
Almost certainly the statin has been prescribed purely because....youre aged 70 or over! Consider it a belated birthday present. "Clinical need" becomes debatable though.
Ive researched statins extensively via numerous scientific reports and have far more reports against than for. For similar reasons, I can say the jury's still out for statins with ckd.
As with all medical interventions, Id suggest a risk-benefit assessment. You could start by asking the GP for medical evidence supporting statins for your case.
Thanks for that. I'm certainly going to ask for my cholesterol being tested again before I consent to statins. If it's still okay I'm going to ask to defer taking statins until my next blood test (6 months) and then see if I've managed to improve my GFR with diet and alcohol changes.
OK. Btw I wasn't being facetious about the age criterion - its a fact now with NHS if >70!
My dad took statins many years ago due to concerns about his cholesterol ratios. After 1y, he stopped because he'd "seen the light" re Nutritional Therapy in favour of allopathic medicine (drugs) for disease prevention. His key ratios are similar now to when on statins and HDL is 20% better. Using the NHS-recommended (most pessimistic!) algorithm qrisk.org/index.php, his CVD risk is now 13.5% compared to 12% if on statins. I suspect his dementia risk now would be much better if there was such an algorithm!
My mum's cholesterol has been above the NHS latest limit for years but that's probably because she's post-menopause and/or has...yes, CKD (stage 3). Cholesterol is trying to help, its the "good guy"! Scientific links are available to support my claims, on request.
I've done some more rearch and used the calcular to check my CVD risk score. Even with everything 'normal' being over 70 puts you above the 10% threshold whereby you are advised to take statins. What has elevated my score is AF which is extremely mild for me and kicks in every now and then for a few hours, usually when I'm asleep. It doesn't affect me in any way other than I'm aware my pulse has become a little irregular. Lone Paroxysmal they call it in that there are no underlying heart conditions behind it. Ironically, I saw some reports that say statins can help with reducing AF episodes if you already suffer from it. Decisions, decisions.
Yes the algorithm is (probably deliberately!) pessimistic so everyone of a certain age is >10%. There's about 5 other such algorithms that are more optimistic but medics dont use them - strange, that!
Re statins, Id want to be certain that they are beneficial with clear, scientific evidence first. But that may just be me!
I would try to get cholesterol down with a low fat plant based diet. This will not only help your cholesterol but could improve your CKD . I fluctuate between stage 2 and stage 3a gfr. My pcp told me to drink lots of water and that as we age it’s not uncommon to have a gfr reading below 60. He watches for big drops in gfr and not for small fluctuations. Also, don’t worry. Easier said than done but if you can keep a light hearted approach to life you will be happier. It’s better to laugh than to cry.
Thanks for that advice. I tend to worry initially when told something but then quickly change to a positive attitude as I decide what to do about it. My water intake during a day has been quite low. I've tended just to drink about 3 cups of tea per day. I've now started drinking much more water and I'm being a bit more selective about what I eat. Comfort eating has gone out of the window. I've seen nothing about alcohol consumption affecting the kidneys but a couple of my 'liver scores' have just sneaked outside the recommended ranges and so as I 'm a social creature and go to the pub regularly during the week I'm going to look into non-alcoholic beers as getting tipsy is not why I go out.
I am not a doctor. I take zetia, AKA ezetimibi for high cholesterol, I had a bad reaction to a statin once, zocor. The first statin Simvastatin I was fine with but had to switch due to drug interactions. Zetia does not work as well as statins but helps some.
I have never ever heard or read of taking statins to help kidney function.
I have been told by two doctors that statins cause diabetes in 1 out of every 250 people but doctors think the benefits outweigh the risks. I’m not so sure. My cardiologist would love to put me on a new statin but I’m on the fence.
I suggest you get a second opinion from a nephrologist.
You are free to refuse any medical treatment at any time, including dialysis, which some people refuse to have and then typically pass away after 2 weeks.
Again, I am not a doctor. I don’t know your entire medical history. I would most definitely want a second opinion before I agreed. Nothing wrong with a second opinion. As for your current doctor, no good doctor should resent your gettig a second opinion.
Thank you for that advice. I think they are using my GFR score as a catalyst to move me onto statins because I am over 70. He made reference to my CVD rating, but that is higher due to my AF, which is very mild and doesn't justify the score it attracts, I feel. I am going to ask for an up-to-date cholesterol test because in my opinion, it is that that warrants considering statins. As for my GFR score slipping to 58, I am going to use dietary measures and cut down on alcohol intake to see what affect that has. I have these blood tests every 6 months or so, due to being on apixaban, and so if my cholesterol does not warrant me being on statins, I'm going to tell them to review it in 6 months after my next blood test.
Remember….GFR does go down with age too. Again, I am not a doctor but 3B (and just on the cusp) is not utterly horrific if it’s not a fast decline. That is when MY doctor asked me to limit protein. I would ask your doctor. Fish protein is easier on your kidneys than land animal protein and plant protein (beans, lentils) are easier on your kidneys than fish protein. Many people eat way more protein than they need to. You might consult a registered dietician (or whatever in the UK) about your diet. My nephrologist told me that going vegetarian would be good for my kidneys. Of course, I still ended up on dialysis.
Again, my current cardiologist said 1 in 250 people on statins get diabetes. My uncle was a cardiologist and always said statins cause diabetes and avoid them. I’m already pre-diabetic and take prednisone (which can cause diabetes)for life with a kidney transplant and I sure don’t need any added risk for diabetes.
I am well-educated in medicine, my father was a doctor and I have read a lot and have many serious medical conditions. I have never heard of statins being used for anything but high cholesterol. Again I am not a doctor, though I have been mistaken for a nurse. Definitely get a second opinion, because, as a non-medical professional, I’d say no to statins myself. You do what is right for you.
Thanks for the advice on protein. One of the dietary changes I'm making is eating more fish. As for land animals, chicken is my favourite which I believe to be 'kinder' than beef, lamb, and pork. Out of those, I have pork occasionally because it's my favourite of the 3. I used to eat a of baked beans for lunch because I read they were good for you. I'll do some more research on them to see if that is still the view, and if so, go back to eating them on a more regular basis.
I'm also 72 with similar eGFR and I used to get afib. I'm on a strict kidney diet, lost eighty pounds over a year or two. Food tastes better so much better now, and I don't get afib anymore. If you give up all sweeteners, your appetite will calm down in a few days and you'll have more control over what you eat, anyway that's how it worked for me. I was able to give up most of the drugs and supplements I used to take. (Apixaban caused me intense itching and I had to quit taking it)
statins are protocol. I didn't ant them either. I'm 61, no hbp. No history of heart issues. But ckd wears o our hearts and so it is standard treatment. ItIt's required for staying on the transplant list, so I take them. If I were your age with a gfr of 58 I would be happy. I've posted several articles on age related kidney decline. My understanding of your risk of worsening ckd if you don't have other risk factors is low.
Adequate water intake (I drink 68-84oz daily), I avoid alcohol; on low salt, plant-based diet & eat fish, egg whites or chicken breast 2-3X week because of low albumin in past lab results.Have to stay on top of fluid intake as I have Sjogren's and it contributes to dehydration. History of heart arrythmias, but no longer taking beta blocker or bp med for now due to hypotensive episodes, but that may change again if bp begins rising. Low cholesterol so far, but with ckd, we are all at risk for CVD.
Trying to balance all, and maintain weight. Exercise important & challenging bc of joint impact from chronic inflammation/Sjogren's. Autoimmune disorder has made ckd management more difficult since. Just keep adjusting, but constant is diet, fluid intake & regular visits to medical visits/labs to make sure no drastic changes.
I got my gfr from 58 to 67. I started taking Allergy Research Kidney Glandular and drinking more water.
My cholesterol has been high for a long time but I refuse to take a statin. I decided to get a Calcium CT Scan to see if my arteries were blocked and my score was 0.
High cholesterol doesn't mean your arteries are blocked. Get a Calcium Score CT Scan
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