Statin concerns stop stroke survivors taking meds

Negative media coverage of the side-effects associated with taking statins, and patients’ own experiences of taking the drugs, are among the reasons cited by stroke survivors and their carers for stopping taking potentially life-saving drugs, according to new research published in BMJ Open. To examine the barriers to taking these medications, researchers at the University of Cambridge and Queen Mary University, London (QMUL) analysed posts to TalkStroke, a UK-based online forum hosted by the Stroke Association, across a seven year period (2004-2011). The forum was used by stroke survivors and their carers, and the team was led by Dr Anna…