Here’s how modern old wives’ tales about drugs live on, in spite of virtually no evidence at all

Here’s another example of wishful thinking dressed up as research.

There’s a crazy idea that’s been going around for some time now that cholesterol-lowering statin drugs prevent pneumonia.

The newest “evidence” comes from an analysis of the JUPITER trial where more than 17,800 subjects took statins or a placebo. When the health records were checked, researchers found 257 cases of pneumonia in the placebo group, and 214 cases in the statin group.

If this had been a study with 500 subjects, those numbers would be impressive enough to explore the link. But out of 17,800+ subjects, the difference between 214 and 257 is a blip. At most.

Ridiculous. But as long as researchers keep cranking out junk “studies” like this, doctors will be able to say that “research shows” statins reduce pneumonia risk.

That’s how these modern old wives’ tales live on, in spite of virtually no solid evidence at all to back them up.

Sources:

“The effect of rosuvastatin on incident pneumonia: Results from the JUPITER trial” Canadian Medical Association Journal press release, 3/19/12, eurekalert.org