Framingham's Faulty Risk Data Drives Statin Sales

January 8, 2009

This post was made to another list I'm on and I'm reposting here as it

applies to some of us:

----------

Framingham's Faulty Risk Data Drives Statin Sales

Wednesday, January 07, 2009

Byron s, CCN

http://www.wellnessresources.com/health/articles/framinghams_faulty_risk_data_dr\

ives_statin_sales/?source=Email & camp=news010809

In the world of fast-food medicine doctors utilize lab test numbers, family

history, and lifestyle factors to help decide whether or not to place

patients on statin drugs. For the past decade they have relied on various

risk tools based on data coming from the Framingham study. A new study

shows that up to 26% of the people being given statins based on this

commonly-used criteria have absolutely no plaque in their arteries! Said

another way, 5 billion in statin sales per year are flat out fraud.

It never ceases to amaze me how data is perverted and twisted for the

purpose of drug sales. The Framingham study is responsible for opening the

statin-prescribing flood gates based on the results of the study that

claimed a 30% risk reduction for cardiovascular disease by lowering

cholesterol. (Never mind that DHA-containing fish oil reduces risk by 50%).

>From this questionable data sprung an entire industry that uses

Framingham-data equations to concoct risk at any age and then prescribe

drugs.

Quite interestingly, data from the actual Framingham study shows that

lowering cholesterol does not improve all-cause mortality, except in people

ages 40 to 50. Between ages 50 and 70 there is no improvement in overall

mortality risk from lowering cholesterol. After age 80, low cholesterol

clearly increases all cause mortality.

A study of 4,500 Italians, ages 65 to 84, showed that those with total

cholesterol levels below 189 had a significantly higher all-cause mortality

than those with total cholesterol levels higher than 189.

Doctors currently use this Framingham data, in a warped way, to routinely

hand out statins to older Americans even though there is no evidence it will

help them live longer. To the contrary, older Americans are now suffering

400,000 extra cases of heart failure per year! This new health problem

correlates directly to increased statin use in this population.

The statin fraud, like the bone drug fraud, is costing lives and the health

of millions of Americans. Anyone taking these drugs is playing Russian

roulette with their own health. There is no quick fix or short cut to being

healthy - but there is a path.

Related Entries:

Fish Oil Helps Heart Patients - Statins Don't

Fish Oil Protects Japanese from Heart Disease

Fish Oil Reduces Atrial Fibrillation and Sudden Death

The Statin Scam Marches On

--

Steve - dudescholar4@...

Take World's Smallest Political Quiz at

http://www.theadvocates.org/quiz.html

" If a thousand old beliefs were ruined on our march

to truth we must still march on. " --Stopford

January 8, 2009

Steve, thanx for posting that. Physicians that prescribe statins to

people with no heart disease " as a preventative " are in my mind

commiting Fraud.

Not to condemn all physicians because as in any profession, you get

really good ones, average ones and very dishonest ones. Its that way

in any business. I have good friends that are physicians, One of

which thinks its all a big con.

But Physicians who participate in the cholesterol scam need to

understand their new image in the public eye. For myself, that image

is best described with these words- White collar crime, Scam Artist,

Fraud, Snake Oil Salesman. The Mob. Corruption. They may wear a white

coat and tie, But I only see their prison orange jumpsuits in my

minds eye. I have more respect for my garbage man because he makes an

honest living.

>

> This post was made to another list I'm on and I'm reposting here as

it

> applies to some of us:

>

> ----------

>

> Framingham's Faulty Risk Data Drives Statin Sales

> Wednesday, January 07, 2009

>

> Byron s, CCN

>

http://www.wellnessresources.com/health/articles/framinghams_faulty_ri

sk_data_drives_statin_sales/?source=Email & camp=news010809

> In the world of fast-food medicine doctors utilize lab test

numbers, family

> history, and lifestyle factors to help decide whether or not to

place

> patients on statin drugs. For the past decade they have relied on

various

> risk tools based on data coming from the Framingham study. A new

study

> shows that up to 26% of the people being given statins based on this

> commonly-used criteria have absolutely no plaque in their arteries!

Said

> another way, 5 billion in statin sales per year are flat out fraud.

>

> It never ceases to amaze me how data is perverted and twisted for

the

> purpose of drug sales. The Framingham study is responsible for

opening the

> statin-prescribing flood gates based on the results of the study

that

> claimed a 30% risk reduction for cardiovascular disease by lowering

> cholesterol. (Never mind that DHA-containing fish oil reduces risk

by 50%).

> >From this questionable data sprung an entire industry that uses

> Framingham-data equations to concoct risk at any age and then

prescribe

> drugs.

>

> Quite interestingly, data from the actual Framingham study shows

that

> lowering cholesterol does not improve all-cause mortality, except

in people

> ages 40 to 50. Between ages 50 and 70 there is no improvement in

overall

> mortality risk from lowering cholesterol. After age 80, low

cholesterol

> clearly increases all cause mortality.

>

> A study of 4,500 Italians, ages 65 to 84, showed that those with

total

> cholesterol levels below 189 had a significantly higher all-cause

mortality

> than those with total cholesterol levels higher than 189.

>

> Doctors currently use this Framingham data, in a warped way, to

routinely

> hand out statins to older Americans even though there is no

evidence it will

> help them live longer. To the contrary, older Americans are now

suffering

> 400,000 extra cases of heart failure per year! This new health

problem

> correlates directly to increased statin use in this population.

>

> The statin fraud, like the bone drug fraud, is costing lives and

the health

> of millions of Americans. Anyone taking these drugs is playing

Russian

> roulette with their own health. There is no quick fix or short cut

to being

> healthy - but there is a path.

>

> Related Entries:

> Fish Oil Helps Heart Patients - Statins Don't

> Fish Oil Protects Japanese from Heart Disease

> Fish Oil Reduces Atrial Fibrillation and Sudden Death

> The Statin Scam Marches On

>

> --

>

> Steve - dudescholar4@...

>

> Take World's Smallest Political Quiz at

> http://www.theadvocates.org/quiz.html

>

> " If a thousand old beliefs were ruined on our march

> to truth we must still march on. " --Stopford

>

January 8, 2009

Steve, thanx for posting that. Physicians that prescribe statins to

people with no heart disease " as a preventative " are in my mind

commiting Fraud.

Not to condemn all physicians because as in any profession, you get

really good ones, average ones and very dishonest ones. Its that way

in any business. I have good friends that are physicians, One of

which thinks its all a big con.

But Physicians who participate in the cholesterol scam need to

understand their new image in the public eye. For myself, that image

is best described with these words- White collar crime, Scam Artist,

Fraud, Snake Oil Salesman. The Mob. Corruption. They may wear a white

coat and tie, But I only see their prison orange jumpsuits in my

minds eye. I have more respect for my garbage man because he makes an

honest living.

>

> This post was made to another list I'm on and I'm reposting here as

it

> applies to some of us:

>

> ----------

>

> Framingham's Faulty Risk Data Drives Statin Sales

> Wednesday, January 07, 2009

>

> Byron s, CCN

>

http://www.wellnessresources.com/health/articles/framinghams_faulty_ri

sk_data_drives_statin_sales/?source=Email & camp=news010809

> In the world of fast-food medicine doctors utilize lab test

numbers, family

> history, and lifestyle factors to help decide whether or not to

place

> patients on statin drugs. For the past decade they have relied on

various

> risk tools based on data coming from the Framingham study. A new

study

> shows that up to 26% of the people being given statins based on this

> commonly-used criteria have absolutely no plaque in their arteries!

Said

> another way, 5 billion in statin sales per year are flat out fraud.

>

> It never ceases to amaze me how data is perverted and twisted for

the

> purpose of drug sales. The Framingham study is responsible for

opening the

> statin-prescribing flood gates based on the results of the study

that

> claimed a 30% risk reduction for cardiovascular disease by lowering

> cholesterol. (Never mind that DHA-containing fish oil reduces risk

by 50%).

> >From this questionable data sprung an entire industry that uses

> Framingham-data equations to concoct risk at any age and then

prescribe

> drugs.

>

> Quite interestingly, data from the actual Framingham study shows

that

> lowering cholesterol does not improve all-cause mortality, except

in people

> ages 40 to 50. Between ages 50 and 70 there is no improvement in

overall

> mortality risk from lowering cholesterol. After age 80, low

cholesterol

> clearly increases all cause mortality.

>

> A study of 4,500 Italians, ages 65 to 84, showed that those with

total

> cholesterol levels below 189 had a significantly higher all-cause

mortality

> than those with total cholesterol levels higher than 189.

>

> Doctors currently use this Framingham data, in a warped way, to

routinely

> hand out statins to older Americans even though there is no

evidence it will

> help them live longer. To the contrary, older Americans are now

suffering

> 400,000 extra cases of heart failure per year! This new health

problem

> correlates directly to increased statin use in this population.

>

> The statin fraud, like the bone drug fraud, is costing lives and

the health

> of millions of Americans. Anyone taking these drugs is playing

Russian

> roulette with their own health. There is no quick fix or short cut

to being

> healthy - but there is a path.

>

> Related Entries:

> Fish Oil Helps Heart Patients - Statins Don't

> Fish Oil Protects Japanese from Heart Disease

> Fish Oil Reduces Atrial Fibrillation and Sudden Death

> The Statin Scam Marches On

>

> --

>

> Steve - dudescholar4@...

>

> Take World's Smallest Political Quiz at

> http://www.theadvocates.org/quiz.html

>

> " If a thousand old beliefs were ruined on our march

> to truth we must still march on. " --Stopford

>

January 9, 2009

The flip side for the Docs is: If Statins are the currently accepted standard of care in the community and they do not adhere to it, and something happens to the patient they are open to one big lawsuit.

Malpractice being what it is many probobly are just not willing to face that exposure at this point.

Glenn___________________________________…for if that which you seek you find not within yourself, you will never find it without.

Re: Framingham's Faulty Risk Data Drives Statin Sales

Steve, thanx for posting that. Physicians that prescribe statins to people with no heart disease "as a preventative" are in my mind commiting Fraud. Not to condemn all physicians because as in any profession, you get really good ones, average ones and very dishonest ones. Its that way in any business. I have good friends that are physicians, One of which thinks its all a big con.But Physicians who participate in the cholesterol scam need to understand their new image in the public eye. For myself, that image is best described with these words- White collar crime, Scam Artist, Fraud, Snake Oil Salesman. The Mob. Corruption. They may wear a white coat and tie, But I only see their prison orange jumpsuits in my minds eye. I have more respect for my garbage man because he makes an honest living.>> This post was made to another list I'm on and I'm reposting here as it > applies to some of us:> > ----------> > Framingham's Faulty Risk Data Drives Statin Sales> Wednesday, January 07, 2009> > Byron s, CCN> > http://www.wellnessresources.com/health/articles/framinghams_faulty_risk_data_drives_statin_sales/?source=Email & camp=news010809> In the world of fast-food medicine doctors utilize lab test numbers, family> history, and lifestyle factors to help decide whether or not to place> patients on statin drugs. For the past decade they have relied on various> risk tools based on data coming from the Framingham study. A new study> shows that up to 26% of the people being given statins based on this> commonly-used criteria have absolutely no plaque in their arteries! Said> another way, 5 billion in statin sales per year are flat out fraud.> > It never ceases to amaze me how data is perverted and twisted for the> purpose of drug sales. The Framingham study is responsible for opening the> statin-prescribing flood gates based on the results of the study that> claimed a 30% risk reduction for cardiovascular disease by lowering> cholesterol. (Never mind that DHA-containing fish oil reduces risk by 50%).> >From this questionable data sprung an entire industry that uses> Framingham-data equations to concoct risk at any age and then prescribe> drugs.> > Quite interestingly, data from the actual Framingham study shows that> lowering cholesterol does not improve all-cause mortality, except in people> ages 40 to 50. Between ages 50 and 70 there is no improvement in overall> mortality risk from lowering cholesterol. After age 80, low cholesterol> clearly increases all cause mortality.> > A study of 4,500 Italians, ages 65 to 84, showed that those with total> cholesterol levels below 189 had a significantly higher all-cause mortality> than those with total cholesterol levels higher than 189.> > Doctors currently use this Framingham data, in a warped way, to routinely> hand out statins to older Americans even though there is no evidence it will> help them live longer. To the contrary, older Americans are now suffering> 400,000 extra cases of heart failure per year! This new health problem> correlates directly to increased statin use in this population.> > The statin fraud, like the bone drug fraud, is costing lives and the health> of millions of Americans. Anyone taking these drugs is playing Russian> roulette with their own health. There is no quick fix or short cut to being> healthy - but there is a path.> > Related Entries:> Fish Oil Helps Heart Patients - Statins Don't> Fish Oil Protects Japanese from Heart Disease> Fish Oil Reduces Atrial Fibrillation and Sudden Death> The Statin Scam Marches On> > -- > > Steve - dudescholar4@...> > Take World's Smallest Political Quiz at> http://www.theadvocates.org/quiz.html> > "If a thousand old beliefs were ruined on our march> to truth we must still march on." --Stopford >

January 9, 2009

The flip side for the Docs is: If Statins are the currently accepted standard of care in the community and they do not adhere to it, and something happens to the patient they are open to one big lawsuit.

Malpractice being what it is many probobly are just not willing to face that exposure at this point.

Glenn___________________________________…for if that which you seek you find not within yourself, you will never find it without.

Re: Framingham's Faulty Risk Data Drives Statin Sales

Steve, thanx for posting that. Physicians that prescribe statins to people with no heart disease "as a preventative" are in my mind commiting Fraud. Not to condemn all physicians because as in any profession, you get really good ones, average ones and very dishonest ones. Its that way in any business. I have good friends that are physicians, One of which thinks its all a big con.But Physicians who participate in the cholesterol scam need to understand their new image in the public eye. For myself, that image is best described with these words- White collar crime, Scam Artist, Fraud, Snake Oil Salesman. The Mob. Corruption. They may wear a white coat and tie, But I only see their prison orange jumpsuits in my minds eye. I have more respect for my garbage man because he makes an honest living.>> This post was made to another list I'm on and I'm reposting here as it > applies to some of us:> > ----------> > Framingham's Faulty Risk Data Drives Statin Sales> Wednesday, January 07, 2009> > Byron s, CCN> > http://www.wellnessresources.com/health/articles/framinghams_faulty_risk_data_drives_statin_sales/?source=Email & camp=news010809> In the world of fast-food medicine doctors utilize lab test numbers, family> history, and lifestyle factors to help decide whether or not to place> patients on statin drugs. For the past decade they have relied on various> risk tools based on data coming from the Framingham study. A new study> shows that up to 26% of the people being given statins based on this> commonly-used criteria have absolutely no plaque in their arteries! Said> another way, 5 billion in statin sales per year are flat out fraud.> > It never ceases to amaze me how data is perverted and twisted for the> purpose of drug sales. The Framingham study is responsible for opening the> statin-prescribing flood gates based on the results of the study that> claimed a 30% risk reduction for cardiovascular disease by lowering> cholesterol. (Never mind that DHA-containing fish oil reduces risk by 50%).> >From this questionable data sprung an entire industry that uses> Framingham-data equations to concoct risk at any age and then prescribe> drugs.> > Quite interestingly, data from the actual Framingham study shows that> lowering cholesterol does not improve all-cause mortality, except in people> ages 40 to 50. Between ages 50 and 70 there is no improvement in overall> mortality risk from lowering cholesterol. After age 80, low cholesterol> clearly increases all cause mortality.> > A study of 4,500 Italians, ages 65 to 84, showed that those with total> cholesterol levels below 189 had a significantly higher all-cause mortality> than those with total cholesterol levels higher than 189.> > Doctors currently use this Framingham data, in a warped way, to routinely> hand out statins to older Americans even though there is no evidence it will> help them live longer. To the contrary, older Americans are now suffering> 400,000 extra cases of heart failure per year! This new health problem> correlates directly to increased statin use in this population.> > The statin fraud, like the bone drug fraud, is costing lives and the health> of millions of Americans. Anyone taking these drugs is playing Russian> roulette with their own health. There is no quick fix or short cut to being> healthy - but there is a path.> > Related Entries:> Fish Oil Helps Heart Patients - Statins Don't> Fish Oil Protects Japanese from Heart Disease> Fish Oil Reduces Atrial Fibrillation and Sudden Death> The Statin Scam Marches On> > -- > > Steve - dudescholar4@...> > Take World's Smallest Political Quiz at> http://www.theadvocates.org/quiz.html> > "If a thousand old beliefs were ruined on our march> to truth we must still march on." --Stopford >

January 9, 2009

I am taking Zetia since I had my stroke on the day before

Thanksgiving. I have taken Lipitor and Zocor in the past but dropped

them after of few weeks on each because of all the pain I was in.

So far with the Zetia I haven't had any of the side effects.

I am also taking Plavix.

I do take these medications but I am still taking my supplements too.

I firm believer of taking Coq10 each day. And I have taken this for

years and I believe that it is the reason I am progressing so fast

from the stroke.

Ed

> >

> > This post was made to another list I'm on and I'm reposting here as

> it

> > applies to some of us:

> >

> > ----------

> >

> > Framingham's Faulty Risk Data Drives Statin Sales

> > Wednesday, January 07, 2009

> >

> > Byron s, CCN

> >

> http://www.wellnessresources.com/health/articles/framinghams_faulty_ri

> sk_data_drives_statin_sales/?source=Email & camp=news010809

> > In the world of fast-food medicine doctors utilize lab test

> numbers, family

> > history, and lifestyle factors to help decide whether or not to

> place

> > patients on statin drugs. For the past decade they have relied on

> various

> > risk tools based on data coming from the Framingham study. A new

> study

> > shows that up to 26% of the people being given statins based on this

> > commonly-used criteria have absolutely no plaque in their arteries!

> Said

> > another way, 5 billion in statin sales per year are flat out fraud.

> >

> > It never ceases to amaze me how data is perverted and twisted for

> the

> > purpose of drug sales. The Framingham study is responsible for

> opening the

> > statin-prescribing flood gates based on the results of the study

> that

> > claimed a 30% risk reduction for cardiovascular disease by lowering

> > cholesterol. (Never mind that DHA-containing fish oil reduces risk

> by 50%).

> > >From this questionable data sprung an entire industry that uses

> > Framingham-data equations to concoct risk at any age and then

> prescribe

> > drugs.

> >

> > Quite interestingly, data from the actual Framingham study shows

> that

> > lowering cholesterol does not improve all-cause mortality, except

> in people

> > ages 40 to 50. Between ages 50 and 70 there is no improvement in

> overall

> > mortality risk from lowering cholesterol. After age 80, low

> cholesterol

> > clearly increases all cause mortality.

> >

> > A study of 4,500 Italians, ages 65 to 84, showed that those with

> total

> > cholesterol levels below 189 had a significantly higher all-cause

> mortality

> > than those with total cholesterol levels higher than 189.

> >

> > Doctors currently use this Framingham data, in a warped way, to

> routinely

> > hand out statins to older Americans even though there is no

> evidence it will

> > help them live longer. To the contrary, older Americans are now

> suffering

> > 400,000 extra cases of heart failure per year! This new health

> problem

> > correlates directly to increased statin use in this population.

> >

> > The statin fraud, like the bone drug fraud, is costing lives and

> the health

> > of millions of Americans. Anyone taking these drugs is playing

> Russian

> > roulette with their own health. There is no quick fix or short cut

> to being

> > healthy - but there is a path.

> >

> > Related Entries:

> > Fish Oil Helps Heart Patients - Statins Don't

> > Fish Oil Protects Japanese from Heart Disease

> > Fish Oil Reduces Atrial Fibrillation and Sudden Death

> > The Statin Scam Marches On

> >

> > --

> >

> > Steve - dudescholar4@

> >

> > Take World's Smallest Political Quiz at

> > http://www.theadvocates.org/quiz.html

> >

> > " If a thousand old beliefs were ruined on our march

> > to truth we must still march on. " --Stopford

> >

>

January 9, 2009

I am taking Zetia since I had my stroke on the day before

Thanksgiving. I have taken Lipitor and Zocor in the past but dropped

them after of few weeks on each because of all the pain I was in.

So far with the Zetia I haven't had any of the side effects.

I am also taking Plavix.

I do take these medications but I am still taking my supplements too.

I firm believer of taking Coq10 each day. And I have taken this for

years and I believe that it is the reason I am progressing so fast

from the stroke.

Ed

> >

> > This post was made to another list I'm on and I'm reposting here as

> it

> > applies to some of us:

> >

> > ----------

> >

> > Framingham's Faulty Risk Data Drives Statin Sales

> > Wednesday, January 07, 2009

> >

> > Byron s, CCN

> >

> http://www.wellnessresources.com/health/articles/framinghams_faulty_ri

> sk_data_drives_statin_sales/?source=Email & camp=news010809

> > In the world of fast-food medicine doctors utilize lab test

> numbers, family

> > history, and lifestyle factors to help decide whether or not to

> place

> > patients on statin drugs. For the past decade they have relied on

> various

> > risk tools based on data coming from the Framingham study. A new

> study

> > shows that up to 26% of the people being given statins based on this

> > commonly-used criteria have absolutely no plaque in their arteries!

> Said

> > another way, 5 billion in statin sales per year are flat out fraud.

> >

> > It never ceases to amaze me how data is perverted and twisted for

> the

> > purpose of drug sales. The Framingham study is responsible for

> opening the

> > statin-prescribing flood gates based on the results of the study

> that

> > claimed a 30% risk reduction for cardiovascular disease by lowering

> > cholesterol. (Never mind that DHA-containing fish oil reduces risk

> by 50%).

> > >From this questionable data sprung an entire industry that uses

> > Framingham-data equations to concoct risk at any age and then

> prescribe

> > drugs.

> >

> > Quite interestingly, data from the actual Framingham study shows

> that

> > lowering cholesterol does not improve all-cause mortality, except

> in people

> > ages 40 to 50. Between ages 50 and 70 there is no improvement in

> overall

> > mortality risk from lowering cholesterol. After age 80, low

> cholesterol

> > clearly increases all cause mortality.

> >

> > A study of 4,500 Italians, ages 65 to 84, showed that those with

> total

> > cholesterol levels below 189 had a significantly higher all-cause

> mortality

> > than those with total cholesterol levels higher than 189.

> >

> > Doctors currently use this Framingham data, in a warped way, to

> routinely

> > hand out statins to older Americans even though there is no

> evidence it will

> > help them live longer. To the contrary, older Americans are now

> suffering

> > 400,000 extra cases of heart failure per year! This new health

> problem

> > correlates directly to increased statin use in this population.

> >

> > The statin fraud, like the bone drug fraud, is costing lives and

> the health

> > of millions of Americans. Anyone taking these drugs is playing

> Russian

> > roulette with their own health. There is no quick fix or short cut

> to being

> > healthy - but there is a path.

> >

> > Related Entries:

> > Fish Oil Helps Heart Patients - Statins Don't

> > Fish Oil Protects Japanese from Heart Disease

> > Fish Oil Reduces Atrial Fibrillation and Sudden Death

> > The Statin Scam Marches On

> >

> > --

> >

> > Steve - dudescholar4@

> >

> > Take World's Smallest Political Quiz at

> > http://www.theadvocates.org/quiz.html

> >

> > " If a thousand old beliefs were ruined on our march

> > to truth we must still march on. " --Stopford

> >

>

January 9, 2009

Yes Glenn,

I have considered the flip side. I beleive that many physicians are leary of statins, but if they go against the grain, they get sued for not complying or their group kicks them out. I,m willing to bet there are a bunch of doctors that distrust the whole statin issue, but keep their mouths shut, and go with the flow and take the path of least resistance. http://geocities.com/flyinresorts/blog.html--- On Fri, 1/9/09, Samoyed <samoyed1@...> wrote:

From: Samoyed <samoyed1@...>Subject: Re: Re: Framingham's Faulty Risk Data Drives Statin SalesLipitor Date: Friday, January 9, 2009, 8:03 AM

The flip side for the Docs is: If Statins are the currently accepted standard of care in the community and they do not adhere to it, and something happens to the patient they are open to one big lawsuit.

Malpractice being what it is many probobly are just not willing to face that exposure at this point.

Glenn____________ _________ _________ _____…for if that which you seek you find not within yourself, you will never find it without.

[TakingLipitorAndHa teIt] Re: Framingham's Faulty Risk Data Drives Statin Sales

Steve, thanx for posting that. Physicians that prescribe statins to people with no heart disease "as a preventative" are in my mind commiting Fraud. Not to condemn all physicians because as in any profession, you get really good ones, average ones and very dishonest ones. Its that way in any business. I have good friends that are physicians, One of which thinks its all a big con.But Physicians who participate in the cholesterol scam need to understand their new image in the public eye. For myself, that image is best described with these words- White collar crime, Scam Artist, Fraud, Snake Oil Salesman. The Mob. Corruption. They may wear a white coat and tie, But I only see their prison orange jumpsuits in my minds eye. I have more respect for my garbage man because he makes an honest living.>> This post was made to another list I'm on and I'm reposting here as it > applies to some of us:> > ----------> > Framingham's Faulty Risk Data Drives Statin Sales> Wednesday, January 07, 2009> > Byron s, CCN> > http://www.wellness resources. com/health/ articles/ framinghams_ faulty_risk_data_drives_ statin_sales/ ?source=Email & camp=news010809> In the world of fast-food medicine doctors utilize lab test numbers, family> history, and lifestyle factors to help decide whether or not to place> patients on statin drugs. For the past decade they have relied on various> risk tools based on data coming

from the Framingham study. A new study> shows that up to 26% of the people being given statins based on this> commonly-used criteria have absolutely no plaque in their arteries! Said> another way, 5 billion in statin sales per year are flat out fraud.> > It never ceases to amaze me how data is perverted and twisted for the> purpose of drug sales. The Framingham study is responsible for opening the> statin-prescribing flood gates based on the results of the study that> claimed a 30% risk reduction for cardiovascular disease by lowering> cholesterol. (Never mind that DHA-containing fish oil reduces risk by 50%).> >From this questionable data sprung an entire industry that uses> Framingham-data equations to concoct risk at any age and then prescribe> drugs.> > Quite interestingly, data from the actual Framingham study shows

that> lowering cholesterol does not improve all-cause mortality, except in people> ages 40 to 50. Between ages 50 and 70 there is no improvement in overall> mortality risk from lowering cholesterol. After age 80, low cholesterol> clearly increases all cause mortality.> > A study of 4,500 Italians, ages 65 to 84, showed that those with total> cholesterol levels below 189 had a significantly higher all-cause mortality> than those with total cholesterol levels higher than 189.> > Doctors currently use this Framingham data, in a warped way, to routinely> hand out statins to older Americans even though there is no evidence it will> help them live longer. To the contrary, older Americans are now suffering> 400,000 extra cases of heart failure per year! This new health problem> correlates directly to increased statin use in

this population.> > The statin fraud, like the bone drug fraud, is costing lives and the health> of millions of Americans. Anyone taking these drugs is playing Russian> roulette with their own health. There is no quick fix or short cut to being> healthy - but there is a path.> > Related Entries:> Fish Oil Helps Heart Patients - Statins Don't> Fish Oil Protects Japanese from Heart Disease> Fish Oil Reduces Atrial Fibrillation and Sudden Death> The Statin Scam Marches On> > -- > > Steve - dudescholar4@ ...> > Take World's Smallest Political Quiz at> http://www.theadvoc ates.org/ quiz.html> > "If a thousand old beliefs were ruined on our march> to truth we must still march on." --Stopford

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January 9, 2009