Statin Denialism Internet Cult with Deadly Consequences

[image error] Statin Denialism: an Internet Cult with Deadly Consequences

An editorial by Cleveland Clinic cardiologist Steven Nissen (above image) appeared in the Annals of Internal Medicine this week lamenting the problem of  “Statin Denialism” on the Internet.(1-2)

Yesterday, I received this reply to the editorial from Alfred E Hackenbush, an anonymous blogger who somehow found my email address and sent me the following enlightening message:

[image error]Quote Alfred E Hackenbush:  Dr Steve Naissan is my hero because his excellent editorial reveals the evil Mom and Pop bloggers operating out of their basements who have convinced millions of American to stop taking their statin drugs.   We all know that statins are miracle drugs, and millions of gullible Americans are just dropping off like flies because they have been hoodwinked into stopping their miracle Statin Drug.  However, let me be clear. I suggest this is not the “Real Problem”.  The real problem is “Statin Drug Denialists” lurking in the academic medical community, and publishing their “Statin Denialism” articles in the mainstream medical literature. Above two images of Steven E Nissen MD courtesy of New York Times and Cleveland Clinic.

[image error] Statin Denialists in the academic cardiology community such as  Dr Edward Gill Professor of Cardiology at University of Colorado actually have DENIED that statin drugs have any benefit for reducing calcium score.

I just can’t believe that!

Left image photo of Alfred E Hackenbush  courtesy of Mad Magazine.

Dr Gill states:

“five randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that not only does statin treatment not reduce coronary calcium, but in fact, the progression of coronary calcium by CT scanning is indistinguishable from placebo treatment.” (Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2010 Mar;12(2):83-7.).

Another denialist is William R Ware, PhD, Emeritus Professor University of Western Ontario Canada, who wrote in 2009 that modern imaging studies have falsified the cholesterol theory of atherosclerosis. Dr Ware says:

“Contrary to the conventional wisdom, total cholesterol (TC) and LDL cholesterol in asymptomatic individuals are not associated

with either the extent or progression of coronary plaque, as quantified either by electron beam tomography (EBT) or coronary CT angiography” (Med Hypotheses. 2009 Oct;73(4):596-600.)

Dr Ware also says this data has been largely ignored by mainstream cardiology. He says,

“The evidence falsifying the hypothesis that LDL drives atherosclerosis has been largely ignored.”

These denialists are not mom and pop bloggers on the internet.  These Statin Denialists are in the mainstream medical literature!!! They must be identified and reported to the thought police !  Denialists… we know who you are and we are coming for you!![image error]

Signed: Alfred E Hackenbush,

Grand Wizard of DenialismWatch.com

442 Fruitcake Street

Nuttsville, Pennsylvania

Above left image courtesy of Statin DenialismWatch.com

Donations to Statin DenialismWatch.com may be sent by carrier pigeon to: DenialismWatch.com at 4123 Waco Nut Drive, Elephant Butte, New Mexico, 87935. (by the way, that’s the name of a real city)

Links and References:

1) Nissen, Steven E. “Statin Denial: An Internet-Driven Cult With Deadly ConsequencesStatin Denial: An Internet-Driven Cult With Deadly Consequences.” Annals of Internal Medicine.

2) Steve Nissen says the battle for patients’ hearts and minds is being lost  by Larry Husten, CardioBrief July 24, 2017

3)  Gill, Edward A. “Does statin therapy affect the progression of atherosclerosis measured by a coronary calcium score?.” Current atherosclerosis reports 12.2 (2010): 83-87.

4) Ware, William R. “The mainstream hypothesis that LDL cholesterol drives atherosclerosis may have been falsified by non-invasive imaging of coronary artery plaque burden and progression.” Medical hypotheses 73.4 (2009): 596-600. cholesterol atherosclerosis falsified coronary artery plaque Ware Medical Hypotheses 2009

5) Steven Nissen conflicts of interest disclosure: Dr. Nissen reports grants from Esperion Therapeutics, during the conduct of the study; grants from Amgen, grants from Pfizer, grants from Astra Zeneca, outside the submitted work; .

6) Nissen reported receiving research support from Amgen, Abbvie, AstraZeneca, Cerenis, Eli Lilly, Esperion Therapeutics, Novo-Nordisk, The Medicines Company, Orexigen, Pfizer, and Takeda and consulting for a number of pharmaceutical companies without financial compensation (all honoraria, consulting fees, or any other payments from any for-profit entity are paid directly to charity, so neither income nor any tax deduction is received).

7) Cleveland Clinic Dr. Shamelessly Promotes Statin Drugs Calling Side Effects ‘Imagined’  Wednesday, July 26th 2017 at 11:00 am Sayer Ji, Founder GreenMEdINFO

8) I Admit It: I’m A Member Of The Cult Posted by Tom Naughton in Bad Science, Media Misinformation, Random Musings…special note: to Tom Naughton…I hate you because your post is actually a lot funnier than mine…

9) Will Stopping Statins Kill People? The statin skirmishes of recent years have turned into bitter conflict. Dr. Nissen says stopping statins will lead to many deaths. What about side effects? Joe Graedon July 27, 2017

Laughing All the Way to the Bank

[image error] Left image : Doctor Receiving Financial Stipends, Research awards, speaking fees etc from statin drug makers: Courtesy of the best you magazine

Laughing all the way to the bank

Jeffrey Dach MD

7450 Griffin Road

Suite 190

Davie, Fl 33314

954 792 4663

The post Statin Denialism Internet Cult with Deadly Consequences appeared first on Jeffrey Dach MD.