New calculator reveals whether you should really worry about statin side effects

Date: July 2, 2026 Source: University of Oxford Summary: Scientists at the University of Oxford have created a calculator that predicts a person's individual risk of serious muscle disorders from statin medications. Their analysis found that more than 98% of people who qualify for statins are at low risk for these rare complications, despite widespread concerns about side effects. The study also revealed that most eligible patients are not taking statins, potentially missing important protection against heart attacks and strokes. Share: Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIN Email FULL STORY A new Oxford calculator shows that serious statin side effects are rare for most people, helping patients weigh the risks against the life-saving benefits. Credit: Shutterstock Researchers at the University of Oxford have created a new calculator that estimates a person's individual risk of developing serious muscle disorders while taking statins. The tool is designed to help patients and doctors make more informed decisions about these commonly prescribed cholesterol lowering medications, which are widely used to prevent heart attacks and strokes. The research, published in The Lancet Digital Health, found that more than 98% of people identified a serious muscle disorder over the following 10 years. The findings suggest that fears about severe muscle related side effects may be overstated for most people who could benefit from treatment. New Tool Aims To Personalize Statin Decisions The researchers also uncovered a significant treatment gap. More than 60% of people who were eligible to take statins were not using them, even though some faced a high risk of heart attack or stroke. The team believes the new calculator could improve conversations between patients and clinicians . The calculator, available through the Oxford University Innovation software store, is based on a clinical prediction model developed and tested using anonymized health records from more than 5.6 million people registered with GP practices across England. Researchers built the model using data from more than 1.7 million people and then validated its accuracy with records from another 3.9 million. How the Statin Risk Calculator Works The model analyzes 22 routinely collected health factors to estimate the likelihood of developing a serious muscle disorder over one, five, and 10 years. These factors include age, sex, ethnicity, body mass index, smoking status, existing medical conditions, previous muscle problems, vitamin D deficiency, medication use, and whether a person has been prescribed statins. Researchers expect the calculator to be used alongside cardiovascular risk assessment tools such as QRISK. Together, these tools could help doctors and patients weigh both the benefits of lowering the risk of heart attacks and strokes and the potential risk of serious muscle complications when deciding whether statin treatment is appropriate.