Millions of people worldwide take statins to lower cholesterol and reduce their risk of heart attacks and strokes. Yet a growing number of patients continue to fear these medicines more than the potentially deadly conditions they are designed to prevent, according to new research from Wroclaw Medical University in Poland.

The study, which surveyed 260 physicians working mainly in primary care and family medicine, found that concerns about side effects remain a major barrier to treatment. Researchers reported that 84% of doctors had encountered patients refusing statins because they feared muscle damage, while 81% said patients were worried about liver injury.

"The most widespread and at the same time most harmful myth is the belief that statins ‘destroy the liver’ or cause severe adverse effects in the majority of patients. In reality, these are well-studied and safe medications, and serious complications occur rarely. Another myth is the claim that if a patient ‘feels well', treatment is unnecessary — meanwhile, dyslipidaemia remains asymptomatic for a long time, and lack of treatment increases the risk of cardiovascular events', said Dr Mateusz Babicki from the Department and Division of Family Medicine.

Statins rank among the most extensively studied medicines in cardiovascular care. Large international clinical trials, involving tens of thousands of participants, have consistently shown that they reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular deaths. Major guidelines from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) continue to recommend statins for people at elevated cardiovascular risk.

Despite this evidence, physicians reported that many patients stop treatment without consulting a doctor. Most estimated that between 10% and 20% of patients discontinue statins on their own. Yet doctors said significant side effects occur in fewer than 10% of patients.

One common concern involves muscle pain. Some patients report so-called statin-associated muscle symptoms, or SAMS, according to researchers. However, evidence from placebo-controlled trials, where some participants receive inactive tablets, suggests these symptoms occur far less frequently than observational studies indicate. The well-known SAMSON study found that muscle-related symptoms happened at similar rates whether patients were taking statins or a placebo, showing that negative expectations can cause people to feel side effects that aren't actually caused by the medication.

The study also raised fears about dementia, erectile dysfunction, cataracts, and prostate cancer. Researchers said current scientific evidence does not support these concerns. Some studies have even suggested statins may help protect against dementia.

The diabetes question is more complex. Statins may slightly increase blood sugar levels in some people, particularly those already at risk. However, experts stress that the reduction in heart attack and stroke risk greatly outweighs this small increase.

Clear, honest, and personalised communication is essential. Patients should understand both the benefits and the possible adverse effects, together with an emphasis on their actual frequency," Dr Babicki said.

Researchers concluded that statins are not losing the battle against science, but rather against fear, misinformation, and online myths. For patients at high cardiovascular risk, abandoning treatment without medical advice may carry far greater dangers than the medicines themselves.