Health misinformation fueling statin hesitancy, worsening heart-disease risk, report warns

A new U.S. report is sounding the alarm on the growing threat of online health misinformation about statins—and its impact on the prevention of cardiovascular disease.False or misleading claims about cholesterol-lowering medications are spreading rapidly online and through social media, says researcher Dr. Heather M. Johnson, a cardiologist in Boca Raton, Fla., in “The impact of health misinformation and health literacy on the management of dyslipidemia,” published in the American Journal of Preventive Cardiology. This misinformation is undermining trust in proven therapies and discouraging millions of people from taking drugs that could prevent heart attacks and strokes.The report shows that misinformation does not just change opinions—it changes outcomes: People exposed to anti-statin messages are less likely to start lipid-lowering therapy, more likely to discontinue treatment, and often overestimate the risks associated with statins while underestimating their benefits.“Statin and cholesterol misinformation adversely affect health through multiple mechanisms contributing to higher cardiovascular morbidity and mortality,” wrote Dr. Johnson, also clinical associate professor in the cardiology department at Florida Atlantic University. “Both health literacy and the distribution of health misinformation are related to social determinants of health and both can be associated with greater prevalence of CVD risk factors (e.g., hypertension, diabetes, cardiometabolic disease) impacting cardiovascular health outcomes.”Canadian perspective“With the easy availability of information on the Internet, we frequently get patients expressing concerns about statins based on articles or videos they have encountered online,” said Dr. Darryl Wan, a Vancouver cardiologist at St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver General Hospital and Mount St. Joseph Hospital.“Unfortunately, the misinformation surrounding statins has been extremely problematic in recent years. This has been spurred and propagated by popular media, anecdotal reports, and misrepresentation of clinical data,” said Dr. Wan, also Canadian Cardiovascular Society spokesperson, in an email interview.“The most damaging information around statins has been that many individuals have been led to believe that these are dangerous chemicals which cause a host of damaging effects in the body.”In reality, they are very safe, life-saving agents that have been well established with years of clinical trial data, he noted. “When managed in coordination with a health care professional, statin therapy can be provided with a very good track record of safety and efficacy.”Dr. Wan references the 2021 Canadian Society of Cardiology Dyslipidemia Guidelines for practical guidance for physicians and to reference to patients.Vulnerable communitiesThe problem is especially acute for individuals with lower health literacy, who may struggle to evaluate conflicting online health information. Dr. Johnson warns that misinformation disproportionately harms vulnerable communities, like those with lower socioeconomic status, marginalized groups and individuals with less access to reliable health information. This dynamic, she notes, widens existing health disparities in cardiovascular disease. In communities already facing higher rates of heart disease, mistrust and misinformation can compound structural barriers and contribute to poorer outcomes.Dr. Johnson cited a studies showing that online patient education materials from U.S. and Canadian health organizations had an average readability level of Grade 11, but the sweet spot for the general population would be closer to Grade 6-7. With cardiovascular disease remaining a global killer, the stakes are high: Ensuring people have the right information could directly translate into fewer heart attacks, fewer strokes, and more equitable health outcomes across populations.“Medical literature is complex, extensive and often convoluted, even for experts in the field,” said Dr. Wan. “While I encourage all my patients to read and educate themselves on their condition, I think it is equally important to ensure that the source of information is valid. Health is an important aspect of well-being and longevity, and decisions that affect health should be made in co-ordination with professionals and experts.”To push back against all the online misinformation about statins, the U.S. report encourages healthcare providers, public-health groups, educators and community organizations work together to boost health literacy, help people better understand preventive care, and make sure reliable, evidence-based information reaches different communities. Some of the suggested strategies include using culturally appropriate messaging, explaining risks and benefits in clearer terms, partnering with trusted community leaders, and actively sharing accurate information on the digital platforms where misinformation tends to spread.Public-facing educationIn Canada, the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) is doing just that, meeting people where they are on social media. In addition to its initiatives tracking misinformation, funding health journalism (with The Canadian Press), and supporting physician advocates, it has launched public-facing education efforts such as Healthcare for Real, a series of video vignettes explaining health issues and posted on social media.“We need to encourages health literacy so that patients have the ability to understand and to critique the information that they're looking at and how to put that into practice when it comes to their own healthcare journey,” said Dr. Margot Burnell, New Brunswick oncologist and president of the CMA, in an interview.Dr. Burnell emphasized the need for patients to have a family physician with whom they can have a trusting relationships in order to combat misinformation.“We see in our surveys a third of people have (sought out information online) because they haven't been able to obtain access to a primary care physician for their medical needs. We've also seen that those individuals report more than 20% increase in harm from that delay in diagnosis or consequences (of online misinformation).”Survey resultsThe 2025 Health and Media Tracking Survey, conducted by Abacus Data for the CMA, found that 43% of Canadians are highly susceptible to believing false health information, with another 35% moderately susceptible. The number of respondents who said they avoided effective medical treatments because of misinformation, was also at 35%, up six points from last year.Meanwhile, nearly half (43%) reported experiencing anxiety or distress due to false or confusing health content circulating online.More than one-third (37%) said limited access to care led them to try medical advice found online. Almost one in three (31%) admitted to following online advice instead of guidance from a healthcare professional, and 23% reported experiencing a negative health impact as a result.Despite these numbers, trust in physicians remained strong, at 80%, with most respondents saying that hearing from trusted health professionals leaves them better able to spot and reject misinformation.For primary care physicians combatting misinformation with patients, says Dr. Burnell, it takes time and effort. Even if a patient doesn’t agree right away to change their understanding, with a trusted relationship, they can change their mind. “Physician listening and having an openness are important. If a patient decides to take another route, treat them in a nonjudgmental way but emphasize how you can better help them.” Read: Risk of health misinformation growing as more Canadians turn to the internet for medical advice, CMA survey warns

Health misinformation fueling statin hesitancy, worsening heart-disease risk, report warns

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