Statins are effective in the primary and secondary prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in patients with diabetes
By IDS intern Amber Jackson, RN, DCES
A large population-based cohort study from the University of Hong Kong demonstrated that statin medications significantly reduce all-cause mortality and major cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes—regardless of baseline cardiovascular risk [3].
Using data from the IQVIA Medical Research Data (IMRD)-UK database, researchers followed adults aged 25–84 years with type 2 diabetes and no prior serious cardiovascular or liver disease for up to 10 years. Participants were stratified by predicted 10-year cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and compared based on statin initiation for primary prevention.
A resounding answer was found. Across all risk categories—including patients classified as having low predicted 10-year CVD risk—statin initiation was associated with a significant reduction in all-cause mortality and major cardiovascular events [3]. These findings address uncertainty about the value of statins in individuals with diabetes, suggests a broader cardioprotective benefit, and encourage the use of statins as a primary prevention strategy.
What About Type 1 Diabetes?
While this study focused on type 2 diabetes, evidence for type 1 diabetes is emerging.
Observational data from the same research group found statin initiation in adults with type 1 diabetes was associated with reduced all-cause mortality and major CVD, with very low adverse risk. [1].
Another study published by PubMed tells us that in adults, statins are effective in the primary and secondary prevention of CVD in patients with diabetes [2].
Current ADA guidelines recommend statin therapy for most adults over age 40 with diabetes, barring specific exclusions [4].
Why This Matters
Diabetes is a significant cardiovascular risk factor, making prevention key to staying healthy. The results support consideration of statin therapy for primary prevention in all adults with diabetes, even when short-term cardiovascular risk appears low [1,2,3,4].
Statins to Stay healthy!
Citations:
[1] Blais, J, Yan, V, Chan, E. et al. Safety and Effectiveness of Statins for Primary Prevention in Adults With Type 1 Diabetes: An Emulation. JACC. 2025 Sep, 86 (11) 797–809.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2025.07.013
[2] Bjornstad, P., & Wadwa, R. P. (2014). Risks and benefits of statin use in young people with type 1 diabetes. Current diabetes reports, 14(7), 499. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-014-0499-8
[3] Medical Xpress. (2025, December 29). Statins significantly reduce mortality risk for adults with diabetes, regardless of cardiovascular risk: Study. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-12-statins-significantly-mortality-adults-diabetes.html
[4] Nuha A. ElSayed, Grazia Aleppo, Vanita R. Aroda, Raveendhara R. Bannuru, Florence M. Brown, Dennis Bruemmer, Billy S. Collins, Sandeep R. Das, Marisa E. Hilliard, Diana Isaacs, Eric L. Johnson, Scott Kahan, Kamlesh Khunti, Mikhail Kosiborod, Jose Leon, Sarah K. Lyons, Mary Lou Perry, Priya Prahalad, Richard E. Pratley, Jane Jeffrie Seley, Robert C. Stanton, Robert A. Gabbay; on behalf of the American Diabetes Association, 10. Cardiovascular Disease and Risk Management: Standards of Care in Diabetes—2023. Diabetes Care 1 January 2023; 46 (Supplement_1): S158–S190. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc23-S010
