Lifestyle Changes in Relation to Initiation of Antihypertensive and Lipid‐Lowering Medication: A Cohort Study

This analysis of patients aged >40 years without cardiovascular disease at baseline (n=41,225) found those who initiated statins or antihypertensives were more likely to become obese (OR 1.82; 95% CI 1.63–2.03) and physically inactive (1.08; 1.01–1.17) than non-initiators.

SPS commentary:

Initiators of these medicines were however also found to be less likely to be smokers (OR 0.74; 95% CI 0.64–0.85) and they had a greater decline in average alcohol consumption (−1.85 g/week; 95% CI −3.67 to −0.14). The authors note that it is unclear from previous research whether preventive medicines lead patients to adopt complementary lifestyle changes or become a substitute for a healthy lifestyle. They note from their findings that initiation led to both positive and negative lifestyle changes, and conclude that “More effective measures are needed to support the recommended lifestyle change in relation to the initiation of pharmacologic interventions for primary prevention”.

Journal of the American Heart Association