My GP has just completed my annual review and has referred me to the GP specialist Pharmacist to discuss statins. My cholesterol has always been well controlled with a reading of around 5 (I was told my good cholesterol was excellent). This year it has increased to 5.16 and he has also completed a QRISK for cardiovascular disease, apparently my score is 19.31% which is moderate for a stroke or heart attack within 10 years. I have never been told about this before, is it something new? Has anyone here had the same assessment done and if so what was your outcome?
I have been referred for a none urgent appointment and as such have to wait until the 17th June.
According to the NHS App and my records my liver and kidney function is 'abnormal' although all the individual tests for each are within the normal range so can't see why these would be classed as abnormal, again can anyone throw any light on these kind of results?
I had the ablation 8 weeks ago not sure if this would have any bearing in the overall results.
Thank you
Karen
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Karendeena
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Cholestrol at that level with no comorbidities and leaving a healthy active life on a largely non-processed food diet with low levels stress/anxiety IMHO is no case for statins. You need to read up widely on both cholesterol and the way statins work.
I am concerned about incentives in the commercial world for raising the subject and consequent worry amongst the Public.
Thanks, I think Doctors are always trying to dish out statins. I do have a great deal of chronic stress though from being with my mum and brother. I often wonder if this has had an impact on my cholesterol as I believe it can?
A very restrained reply there lol. The medical world seems to love labels and tags. Cholesterol is nothing to worry about. As Second try hints, the motivation is more commercial than medical. Cholesterol is made in your liver and used by almost everything in your body, your brain is half cholesterol, tinker with the supply and you tinker with a great deal more.
I was already taking a statin, Simvastatin, as I had a score of 5.2, but phoned Dr to discuss stopping it as I was getting severe pain in shoulders and arms and I had read on here that some unlucky people get that with Simvastatin. I spoke to a locum who scared the bejeezus out of me by saying my Risk score was 20% and if I stopped taking the statin I would most likely have a stroke etc within next 10 years. I later spoke to my own doctor who after a bit of a discussion agreed to change my statin to Rosuvastatin and pains have subsided drastically, she also admitted that the locum was a bit over zealous re the QRisk thing and they had had quite a few complaints.
My partner had a heart attack years ago (a very fit man who ran marathons), he was put on statins and got so bad with pains in his legs etc that he couldn't get out of a car! They ate away all of his muscles so he no longer takes them. He is now in some other drug that does the same thing to control cholesterol but is not a statin. Don't think doctors want to dish that out. as I expect it is more expensive
I'm so glad that someone on this forum raised the issue of muscle pain and weakness as I would not have connected it with Simvastatin. It was gradually spreading down my body but arms and shoulders were the first to go. My own Dr hadn't connected it either but hopefully now I've persuaded her that it is a "thing" maybe it will help someone else. I hope your husband's muscle wastage has improved by now.
Thank you, his muscles never recovered fully, they have all but disappeared although he does keep fit and active. He really did suffer the pain and they tried several statins of some description before coming up with the drug he is on now
There was a general alert a few months ago with people recently starting statins causing Myasthenia gravis - muscle weakness disease which I already have. It doesn’t directly cause pain but I have muscle spasms which are painful & very tight my fascia which causes pain. Needless to say I will never take a statin.
If your risk score for a cardiovascular event is 20% then the probability that you will not experience such an event within 10 years is 80%. Dependant on yor age these odds sound good to me.
Yes, Q-Risk is generally used, yes nearly everyone gets this talk because GP’s are paid to have it. I am absolutely with secondtry, very concerned about the incentives with this scheme.
Personally I would never take statins because the risks for me would outweigh any benefits and I just don’t believe that the UK NHS lipid testing is extensive enough. My total cholesterol was 7.5 6 months ago, now 7.1 at age 73, in my 40’s & 50’s it was below 5 but cholesterol naturally increases with age and there may be some benefits to that but still being researched. My GPs now don’t even bother to have ‘the talk’ as I have it on record I won’t take statins.
I think there is a case for statins for those with known CVD or familial high cholesterol but oversubscribed in my none medical view.
Thank you. There is no family history of cholesterol. My mother at 96 has a score of 4.2! My brother was put on a statin with a score lower than mine but did have a stroke with undiagnosed afib!
I have yet to see any post or article where some one says "Statins changed my life for the better" I have never seen one I have seen plenty which tells of the side effects, that stopped when they binned the statins The medical profession and whoever instructs their practices have a lot to answer for. An elderly relative had a stroke 2 weeks after her Covid jab over a year ago, she has lost a lot of physical and mental capacity yet they have their syringes out and are ready to jab her again, not in the surgery but in a supermarket! That's how little they value their patients
No, this is not new (using QRisk to assess whether statins should be prescribed) but what has happened, I understand, is that the threshold for prescribing statins used to be a QRisk score of 20 and above but it's been lowered to 10. Subsequently pretty much everyone over a certain age is going to be over the threshold. Hence why this forum is full of people who's GPs are wanting to prescribe statins for them.
This is a major push from the Powers That Be, presumably to lower the rates of stroke & heart events which are very costly for the NHS. However, as we all know, statistics do not tell the whole story and unpleasant side effects of medications don't seem to be taken into account either.
Personally I have told my GP 'no, thank you' and will continue to do so.
"In 2014, the NICE guidelines for England and Wales on lipid modification reduced the CVD risk threshold for offering statins from 20% to 10% 10-year risk.6,7 The benefit of lowering the threshold has been questioned.17 The medical community and lay media have raised concerns about overprescribing of statins, questioning the clinical benefit and potential for harm.18,19"
There was a huge fuss at the time with many doctors (who are the ones who see statin side effects ) objecting to the lowering. They went ahead and did it anyway. The QRISK algorithm has been tested against real life events and was shown to consistently overestimate risk of cardiovascular events. I have never been assessed by my doctor here with it. My cholesterol goes up and down with my TSH and even at 7.3 my GP never mentioned a statin - probably because he suspects I would say no. My cardiologist has never mentioned it either. I don't really like my cardiologist that much but I stick with him for that reason!
Lowering the risk of strokes and heart attacks is far more connected to changing life style. Where's the advocacy for that from GPs? I won't have a statin either. My OH though has just been frightened by the increase in his cholesterol. He's Type 2, takes Metformin which has an effect on a lot of things, prevents B12 absorption for one, have they tested his B12? Of course not. The statin argument will roll on, me showing him all the articles cautioning against taking it, him stopping then having these wonderful pharmacists employed in GP surgeries now urging him to take it. It was so urgent he didn't have his telephone chat until 5 weeks after his diabetic review, mmm.
Hi there, yes, I understand where you are coming from. Interestingly enough I have the appointment with the surgery 'specialist pharmacist' who I expect is going to try and convince me I need statins! I have to wait until the 17th of June!
Simce 2000 I have taken proven SOLGAR (Gold Top) Sublingual Nugget 1000ug dose
I was at 140. level advised B12 deficient as body not able to get from food. I took 1 everyday until 6 weeks later I was at 900. Body excretes excess. So Dr and I monitored until down to 300 but now I stay at 400-500 level.
my GP suggested statins. Cholesterol 5.4. I refused and took it upon myself to lower it myself. Last measurement was 5.04. So thank but no thank you to statins. I don’t tolerate medication very well and at the moment on enough.
Hi babs1234, How long did it take you to reduce your cholesterol levels from 5.4 to 5.04 ? My pharmacist suggested statins when my level was 5.6 ( she said because Afib was an additional risk factor ), and I said I would try lowering my cholesterol myself. I have stopped all butter ( hadn’t realised how much saturated fat was in a smear of butter on two slices of toast ! ) and greatly reduced my cheese consumption - I am a cheese freak, so this was difficult 😬 . I also eat a cholesterol-lowering yoghurt most days. Otherwise, I eat pretty healthily. I was wondering how soon to get another blood test done as the last one was nearly three months ago. I have no idea how quickly cholesterol readings change.
Hi Annie. I did the same as you and started using the spread for lowering cholesterol instead of butter also reduced cheese. I’m a pescatarian so found that quite hard too. I think I’d ask for a blood test now just to make sure you’re going in the right direction. Statins are for some reason over prescribed and I know I wouldn’t be able to tolerate them. My partner was really bad with SE when he was prescribed them.
Hi babe, yes I will get the test done. It would be encouraging if I had managed to reduce it. I’m puzzled by the ‘overall’ result of 5.6, because my ‘good’ cholesterol was great, and my ‘bad’ cholesterol low. Where on Earth do these figures come from 🙄. Also, I did the new NHS Heart Health check firm, where you put in your cholesterol results, blood pressure, weight etc plus health conditions. I am nearly 73 and I filled out the online form and my result was: I have the heart health of a 68 year old. I had forgotten to add that I had Afib , and when I did this, my result was ; I have the heart health of an 83 year old ! Algorithms eh ? !
Yep, funny one that. My ferritin is often 2-3 times higher than the top of the scale - 150, it says abnormal, no GP has ever mentioned it. When I queried it, blank look. Mentioned that the consultant Endo I mentioned it to said I should ask GP to refer me to a gastroenterologist so she did. They couldn't find a problem and had no explanation 🤔 My B12 is below what NICE advise but in range on NHS test because I must still have some floating about. I have other "abnormal" results but they're never mentioned either. Honestly they decry the internet doctors but I've found them way more informative and helpful
Ive had some minor ops lately and each time in pre assessment they want blood test to check thyroxine levels as they aren’t right but never get any feedback 🤷♀️
Many years ago my ferritin was 600 and I got a gene test for haemochromotosis which came back positive. If your ferritin it might be worth checking this. There’s tons of stuff on line and Haemo websites all over the world. It’s very common especially in the Scottish and Irish populations
My GP requested one as part of blood tests. Lab refused on the grounds that there were no familial links. GP left it at that. I've never heard of any family member having it to be honest and I don't think I have it to be honest. The levels go up and down with every test. Thanks for suggesting it though.
All my family on statins. No side effects. In my case EP recommended after some evidence of slightly raised calcium score. Elderly mother on them since stroke 30 years ago. Now hale and hearty at 98. So we reckon something is working!
I've not heard of statins killing anyone and not everyone gets obvious side effects, raised calcium would not be fixed by taking a statin, it's more likely connected to a parathyroid problem. Your family are all on statins because they accepted them via GPs who are paid if they prescribe them which is why they push them at everyone over a certain age, I think it's 50. They should be taken using informed choice which sadly is seldom the case.
Raised calcium deposits in arteries won't be fixed by statins, but statins should reduce my cholesterol which should slow down the progress of my heart disease. I hope.
Taking statins don't make you 'feel' any better, they are there as a preventative medication. Obviously with a comorbidity the advice would be not to take them, however there are many well-informed medical people who do recommend they are taken, my cardiologist included. I am not an expert but I would certainly bow to those who are in a position of expertise. Ultimately it is an individuals decision.
I think the approach of "bowing to those who are in a position of expertise" in the medical world died a long overdue and shattering "death" in my world because of the recent and ongoing Covid vaccine advocacy by such experts(sic!). 🤕🤔
"I am not an expert but I would certainly bow to those who are in a position of expertise. "
Unfortunately I have had far too many direct experiences of those who are in a position of expertise being just plain wrong to bow to anybody without being convinced myself of the course of action they're promoting!
I get text messages every year from my surgery telling me to make an appointment to start statins. Every time, I email them back to say that I will never take statins given my “perfect by their measures” cholesterol levels. I am already on hormone blockers for breast cancer which cause bone and joint pain and I will never take a statin which would make matters worse. I get a phone call from the practice nurse specialist who says the statins are recommended for other than just chloresterol. I say I want it noted on my records that I will never take a statin. She says we can’t do that and you will get a reminder next year. If that doesn’t smack of a money making incentive for GPs. I don’t know what does!! They get paid for monitoring people, so there is an incentive to get people on statins, etc.
I understand where you are coming from. We have to fit into boxes, same goes for blood test results in general. If you are one marker out then they will try and prescribe another pill. It's took me 3 years to get off prednisolone (taken for polymyalgia) so I don't want anymore aching joints!There was an article in the Daily Mail yesterday about a woman with breast cancer with the headlines " ls it ever safe to stop taking pills designed to protect you from cancer a stroke or a heart attack", she gave up on prescription drugs!
I had q-risk assessment done a few years back and had a score of 29 out of 30 chance of heart attack within 10 years, this was after a number of years of gp trying to get me to take statins, i hadnt heard of q-risk and it been first time of hearing my score alarmed me, so not wanting to take statins i embarked on intermittent fasting and taking plant sterols, so on follow up with gp my score dropped to 23 , this was 3 to 4 weeks , i continued this regimen for a period forget maybe 4-6 months, and slipped back into old ways so cant say what my score is now , must add ,at the time my gp said my cholesterol was high my ep said it was reasonable, but it shows with modification in diet and exercise and natural supplements that its possible to lower cholesterol and q-risk, ps, one gp told me that no matter how much rabbit food i ate that i couldnt lower my cholesterol.....
Hi Karendeena, have you checked your QRisk yourself? It is freely available online. My GP practice used the outdated QRisk2 and gave me a figure of over 17%. They were most keen to prescribe a statin. I checked with the most recent QRisk3 calculator and it gave me 9.8%.
The trigger was a routine blood test which found a high total cholesterol reading of 7.2. I pointed out that my cholesterol has been over 5 for the last 17 years. Moreover, a CT angiogram this week found my arteries to be entirely normal.
Thank you. I will check my own QRisk. I think it is high because my dad passed away aged 60 with diseased arteries. He had an accident though, banged his head and died from a brain bleed as he was on warfarin. It was 35 years ago before ablations were available. I will come back to you with my scaore
My dad passed away at 54 with heart disease. That is included in the QRisk3 questions. Following NICE guidance in December, surgeries have been advised to the use QR3 but some are still awaiting software updates to transition, despite it being publicly available online. I’d be interested if you come out lower than your original assessment. The surgery pharmacist advocating for statins couldn’t explain the difference.
Hi there, I did the assessment last night and came out at 11.5% lower than my doctor's at 19.31%I can't see any reason why my results are at this level, I don't drink, don't smoke, gave a systolic BP at 110, no diabetes, take no other meds other than the apixaban and Sotalol. The only thing I can think of is my BMI at 26 but not really overweight at 11st and 5ft 4inch. Could it just be the afib diagnosis or the fact I am 67 and female?
Interesting yours is around 40% lower too. Try toggling the Afib button on and off and it shows c.7% increase so this forms the vast majority of your score. Otherwise your score would be closer to 4% and be excellent & so you’ve done a grand job keeping what is under your control healthy.
Why there is a differential between 19% vs 11% would be a pertinent question to ask next month as it forms the basis of the risk/benefit decision and it is not an insignificant difference.
I had the same cholesterol test at my GP surgery and my results were absolutely fine. They still offered a statin but I turned it down. I look at the absolute benefit of taking statins compared to your risk and it’s 1.3%. Given that potential side effects include dementia and diabetes I wasn’t interested. It’s always a personal choice but I met with my cardiologist and also analysed the q risk score (mine was over 20%) and 7 or 8% was to do with afib and another 8% was my age at 71. The outcome of my meeting was a no thank you. The surgery get financial points for offering statins and they are offered to anyone recording 10% or above.
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