Cholesterol drugs safe, insists hospital

University Hospital Galway has moved to reassure patients prescribed statins cholesterol drugs that the products are safe to use.

Clinical director for the group of hospitals in the West and North-West, Pat Nash said as a cardiologist he believed there was extensive evidence to support their continued use.

Dr Nash issued his statement after two doctors at University Hospital Galway published research indicating statins increase the risk of diabetes, cataracts and male impotence. Their work, published in the Journal of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, also suggested that in rare cases statins had the potential to increase the chances of getting Parkinson’s disease and cancer.

However, Dr Nash said the views published in the study did not reflect those of the hospital or the group.

“I wish to reassure patients that statins are safe,” he said. “These are very important, well-validated drugs for the treatment of elevated cholesterol. We have extensive evidence to show their benefit.”