Statins are medications that are effective at lowering cholesterol and protecting against heart attack and stroke. There are several different kinds of statins including rosuvastatin (Crestor, Ezallor), atorvastatin (Lipitor), and fluvastatin (Lescol), among others. 

Researchers at John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health recently published a study in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology that associated rosuvastatin with increased risks for kidney damage. Read more about what they did, what they found, and what it means.* 

What they did

Using electronic health records, Jung-Im Shin, M.D., and colleagues collected data from 152,101 new users of rosuvastatin and 795,799 new users of atorvastatin from 2011 to 2019. From there, they analyzed and compared the risks of kidney damage between the two medications. Specifically, researchers looked at:

• hematuria (blood in urine), 
• proteinuria (protein in urine), 
• and kidney failure requiring dialysis. 

What they found

After an average follow-up time of 3.1 years, researchers observed an increased risk for hematuria, proteinuria, and kidney failure requiring dialysis in patients taking rosuvastatin. 

Current labeling for rosuvastatin recommends a maximum dose of 10 milligrams in patients with an estimated glomerular filtration (eGFR) rate of less than 30, which indicates CKD stage 4 or 5. However, 44% of these patients had been prescribed high-dose rosuvastatin (20 or 40 milligrams daily) and had an even higher risk for hematuria and proteinuria. 

What it means

“Because rosuvastatin may cause proteinuria and hematuria, especially with high dose, high-dose rosuvastatin may not merit the risk — even if small — particularly for patients with advanced kidney disease,” Shin said in a statement.

If you take rosuvastatin and have CKD stage 4 or 5, speak with your nephrologist (kidney doctor) about your health risks from the drug. If you have early-stage CKD, your doctor can still explain the pros and cons of taking this medication and explore other statins with you.

*Real-World Data Links Rosuvastatin to Adverse Effects on Kidneys. (2022, August 19). Physician’s Weekly. Retrieved September 12, 2022, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2022/08/25/long-covid-brain-science-fog-recovery/