Will recent discussions about the risk calculator, used to measure risk for heart disease and stroke, lead to widespread prescribing of statins which carry their own risks and concerns? Apart from the question of the accuracy of the risk calculator, the crucial issue is the use of a risk calculator as a measuring tool for prescribing statins. The problem is that there are differing opinions about exactly which measurement is the target.
The recently published guidelines indicate that people without a history of heart disease can start taking statins if they have a 7.5% higher risk of developing heart problems or stroke in the next 10 years, based upon family history, and other conditions such as inflammatory disease. That’s a significant change from the 20% higher risk that previous guidelines advised.
Because this represents such a dramatic shift, some heart experts are concerned that the standard treatment of heart disease such as proper diet and exercise, so successful for many patients, will be ignored. More concerning is the fact that individuals who do not need statins will be taking them.
For patients, long frustrated with health recommendations which seemingly change like the weather, this presents yet another occasion where controversy among health care professionals makes it very difficult to select a sound treatment choice.
This is especially true since the media, has widely publicized the argument that prescribing statins across a much larger population is a positive conclusion. This creates the impression that this reasonable cure for many is a cure-all for everyone. Couple this hype with the fact that one of the largest causes of medical errors in this country is misdiagnosis by doctors, and it is no wonder that doctors and patients are bewildered.
A recent Wall Street Journal article (November 18, 2013) cited misdiagnosis are among the most common, costly, and harmful medical errors,that could be prevented with more diligence. “The Biggest Mistakes Doctors Make” outlines how some doctors who fail to follow best practices or follow through with patients have increased the chances that the wrong treatment, under-treatment or over-treatment can lead to serious , sometimes fatal medical errors.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that heart disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women and nearly 800,000 Americans experience heart attacks every year.
The American Heart Association contends that it is essential that all individuals measure their own risk of heart disease and make a plan for how to prevent it. To make matters worse they have a different patient risk calculator and indicate in bold on their website that this “risk calculator is NOT connected to the 2013 treatment guidelines for professionals”
How confusing is all of this to patients? How disturbing to think that medical errors could occur when the individuals who do not meet the right targets are prescribed the wrong medication for them, because it is a popular perception that the medication is a cure-all.
The bottom line is that statins are a wonderful discovery and for the right patients potentially prolong their life and well-being. However, like so many other complicated issues in health care today, this is another example of where mixed messages from researchers cause clinician uncertainty, along with a media frenzy, which makes it very difficult for physicians and patients to partner and make good health decisions.
What should an e-Patient do when confronted with these medical dilemmas?
1. Talk to your doctors. Question the rationale for medications that are prescribed. Weigh and measure the benefits and the risks.
2. Go online and review all of the pros and cons, side effects, long-term impact and short-term gains of a medication.
3. Do not make hasty decisions about treatments based on media hype, crowd sourced ideas or popular perceptions.
4. Always remember, you have choices and they are yours to make.
