#AHA20 – In patients who had discontinued statins because of side effects, a N-of-1 trial of a statin, placebo, or no treatment found that side effects often attributed to statins were the same for those taking a placebo

Side effects often attributed to statins were the same for those taking a placebo – American Heart Association

Commentary: ‘Nocebo effect’ cause of most statin side-effects, study suggests – The Guardian

Original study: N-of-1 Trial of a Statin, Placebo, or No Treatment to Assess Side Effects – New England Journal of Medicine ($ – no abstract available)

Commentary on Twitter

Patients who had discontinued statins because of side effects received four bottles of a statin, four bottles of placebo, and four empty bottles. Each used for 1 month, in random sequence. The symptom burden with placebo was 90% of the symptom burden with the statin. #AHA20

— NEJM (@NEJM) November 15, 2020