Statin use and depressive symptoms in a prospective study of community-living older persons.
OBJECTIVE
The association between statin use and depression is complex, and research findings have been mixed. The present study aimed to investigate the association of statin use with depressive symptoms among community-living older persons, and its effect modifications by gender and medical co-morbidity.


METHODS
Prospective observational study of 1803 participants aged 55 and above in the Singapore Longitudinal Ageing Studies cohort, with data of statin use and other risk factors for depression at baseline, and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) symptom scores at follow-up (1.5 years).


RESULTS
Controlling for baseline demographics, cholesterol level and medical co-morbidities, statin use was not associated with depressive symptom scores in the whole sample overall (regression coefficient = -0.12 (SE 0.10), F([1,1782]) = 1.44, p = 0.23). Post hoc analyses suggested that statin use may be associated with fewer depressive symptoms in women (p = 0.02), and more depressive symptoms in men, particularly those with more medical co-morbidities (p = 0.04) and multiple drug use (p = 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
This study provided no strong evidence that support an overall association of statin use and depressive symptoms. The post hoc findings in this study are suggestive but may also be spurious and should be replicated in other studies.
Feng
Liang
L
Gerontology Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
Yap
Keng Bee
KB
Kua
Ee Heok
EH
Ng
Tze Pin
TP
D000368:Aged; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology
D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors