Statin use should not be impacted by concerns about increased risk of developing diabetes, since its ability to reduce mortality outweighs the small risk, according to an observational cohort study involving more than 18,000 individuals.

Participants included 13,508 normoglycemic patients, 33% of whom were taking statins, and 4,563 individuals with impaired fasting glucose, 41% of whom were taking statins. Investigators obtained demographic information, comorbidities, and other key data, and analyzed diabetes risk and mortality.

Among the results after an average of 6 years of follow-up:

• Statin use increased diabetes risk by 19% in normoglycemic individuals and 24% in those with impaired fasting glucose.

• Statins decreased overall mortality by 30% in normoglycemic patients and by 23% in those with impaired fasting glucose.

Citation: Castro M, Simon G, Cha S, Yawn B, Melton L, Carballo P. Statin use, diabetes incidence and overall mortality in normoglycemic and impaired fasting glucose patients. [Published online ahead of print February 5, 2016]. J Gen Intern Med. doi: 10.1007/s11606-015-3583-0.