QJM Advance Access originally published online on July 24, 2009
QJM 2009 102(9):625-633; doi:10.1093/qjmed/hcp093
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Statin therapy, muscle function and falls risk in community-dwelling older adults
From the 1Menzies Research Institute, University of Tasmania, Hobart and 2School of Human Life Sciences, University of Tasmania, Launceston, Australia
Address correspondence to D. Scott, BHM (Hons), Menzies Research Institute, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart, Tasmania, 7001, Australia. email: dsscott{at}utas.edu.au
Received 30 April 2009 and in revised form 16 June 2009
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Abstract |
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Background: Statin therapy can cause myopathy, however it is unclear whether this exacerbates age-related muscle function declines.
Aim: To describe differences between statin users and non-users in muscle mass, muscle function and falls risk in a group of community-dwelling older adults.
Design: A prospective, population-based cohort study with a mean follow-up of 2.6 years.
Methods: Total 774 older adults [48% female; mean (standard deviation) age = 62 (7) years] were examined at baseline and follow-up. Differences in percentage appendicular lean mass (%ALM), leg strength, leg muscle quality (LMQ; specific force) and falls risk were compared for statin users and non-users.
Results: There were 147 (19%) statin users at baseline and 179 (23%) at follow-up. Longitudinal analyses revealed statin use at baseline predicted increased falls risk scores over 2.6 years (0.14, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.27) and a trend towards increased %ALM (0.45%, 95% CI –0.01 to 0.92). Statin users at both time points demonstrated decreased leg strength (–5.02 kg, 95% CI –9.65 to –0.40) and LMQ (–0.30 kg/kg, 95% CI –0.59 to –0.01), and trended towards increased falls risk (0.13, 95% CI –0.01 to 0.26) compared to controls. Finally, statin users at both baseline and follow-up demonstrated decreased leg strength (–16.17 kg, 95% CI –30.19 to –2.15) and LMQ (–1.13 kg/kg, 95% CI –2.02 to –0.24) compared to those who had ceased statin use at follow-up.
Conclusion: Statin use may exacerbate muscle performance declines and falls risk associated with aging without a concomitant decrease in muscle mass, and this effect may be reversible with cessation.