Oxford tool predicts low risk of statin muscle side effects

Researchers have unveiled two significant developments aimed at improving the management of high cholesterol, a leading cause of heart disease worldwide. First, a new risk calculator from the University of Oxford provides personalized estimates of serious muscle side effects from statins, while a separate study from the University of California San Diego has identified a novel biological pathway and a potential alternative drug.

The Oxford-developed calculator, detailed in a study published in The Lancet Digital Health, estimates an individual's risk of developing serious muscle disorders, such as myopathy or rhabdomyolysis, over one, five, and ten years. It uses 22 routinely recorded factors including age, sex, existing health conditions, and medication use. The tool is based on anonymized health records from over 5.6 million people in England. The research found that more than 98 percent of people eligible for statin treatment were predicted to have a low risk of serious muscle disorders over the next decade.

The calculator is intended to address a substantial treatment gap. Studies indicate more than 60 percent of people eligible for statins are not taking them, and research...