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Journal's statin articles to be investigated Journal's statin articles to be investigated
(about 4 hours later)
Articles published by the British Medical Journal suggesting that statins may be harmful are to be investigated.Articles published by the British Medical Journal suggesting that statins may be harmful are to be investigated.
The journal will set up an expert panel to decide if it should retract two articles saying the cholesterol-reducing drugs had harmful side-effects.The journal will set up an expert panel to decide if it should retract two articles saying the cholesterol-reducing drugs had harmful side-effects.
The papers were criticised when they were published in October.The papers were criticised when they were published in October.
Statins are offered to seven million people in the UK who have a 20% chance of heart disease in the next decade.Statins are offered to seven million people in the UK who have a 20% chance of heart disease in the next decade.
The BMJ said Dr John Abramson from Harvard Medical School and UK cardiologist Dr Aseem Malhotra had already withdrawn statements from the articles after some figures proved to be incorrect.The BMJ said Dr John Abramson from Harvard Medical School and UK cardiologist Dr Aseem Malhotra had already withdrawn statements from the articles after some figures proved to be incorrect.
Its expert panel will decide whether to completely retract the articles.Its expert panel will decide whether to completely retract the articles.
Errors were not picked up at the time by the journal's editors or the experts who peer-reviewed the work, the BMJ said.Errors were not picked up at the time by the journal's editors or the experts who peer-reviewed the work, the BMJ said.
The journal said Dr Abramson's paper cited data from an "uncontrolled observational study" and "incorrectly concluded" that statin side-effects occur in 18-20% of patients.The journal said Dr Abramson's paper cited data from an "uncontrolled observational study" and "incorrectly concluded" that statin side-effects occur in 18-20% of patients.
The same mistake was made by Dr Malhotra in the same edition of the BMJ and it is these statements that have been withdrawn, the journal said.The same mistake was made by Dr Malhotra in the same edition of the BMJ and it is these statements that have been withdrawn, the journal said.
BMJ editor Dr Fiona Godlee added: "The BMJ and the authors of both these articles have now been made aware that this figure is incorrect, and corrections have been published withdrawing these statements."BMJ editor Dr Fiona Godlee added: "The BMJ and the authors of both these articles have now been made aware that this figure is incorrect, and corrections have been published withdrawing these statements."
'Exaggerated concern''Exaggerated concern'
Dr Godlee said she did not want patients who could benefit from statins to be "wrongly deterred from starting or continuing treatment because of exaggerated concern over side-effects".Dr Godlee said she did not want patients who could benefit from statins to be "wrongly deterred from starting or continuing treatment because of exaggerated concern over side-effects".
She said she had established the panel because as editor she had an interest in not immediately retracting the work unless the case against them was clear.She said she had established the panel because as editor she had an interest in not immediately retracting the work unless the case against them was clear.
The BMJ would continue to debate "whether the use of statins should be extended to a vastly wider population of people at low risk of cardiovascular disease; and the role of saturated fat in heart disease," she added.The BMJ would continue to debate "whether the use of statins should be extended to a vastly wider population of people at low risk of cardiovascular disease; and the role of saturated fat in heart disease," she added.
The independent panel will be chaired by Dr Iona Heath, a former chairwoman of the Royal College of General Practitioners and a member of the BMJ's ethics committee.The independent panel will be chaired by Dr Iona Heath, a former chairwoman of the Royal College of General Practitioners and a member of the BMJ's ethics committee.
Have you been prescribed statins? Did you choose to stop taking them due to the research? If you are willing to be interviewed, please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences using the subject line 'statins'. Please include your contact details, and if you are happy to feature on the BBC News website, a photograph of yourself.