Analgesic drug use associated with statin prescription--a cross-sectional study in primary care settings.
BACKGROUND
To investigate whether features of muscular complaints (MC) differ between receivers of a statin prescription and non-receivers. To analyze the relationship between analgesics prescription, statin prescription and/or musculoskeletal disorders.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study. Consecutive patients in offices of family practitioners were interviewed using a standardized questionnaire. Target variables: Rates of features of MC in patients with or without a statin prescription and rates of analgesic drug prescription in patients with or without statin prescription and/or musculoskeletal disorders. Odds ratios (adjusted for age, sex, and socio-economic status) were calculated using logistic regression analysis.


RESULTS
1135 patients in 26 general practitioners' offices were asked to participate, and 1031 patients agreed. Features of MC did not differ between the two groups of patients. Analgesic prescription was found to be associated with statin prescription in patients without musculoskeletal disorders (OR 2.2, CI 1.1-4.7 without statin, OR 2.5, CI 0.9-6.9 with statin) and particularly in those with musculoskeletal disorders (OR 5.2, CI 2.9-9.3 without statin, OR 9.3, CI 4.5-19.1 with statin).


CONCLUSIONS
Analgesic prescriptions are probably positively associated with statin prescription. Assuming that analgesics attenuate MC, an even stronger association between MC and statin use seems likely. The results generate the hypothesis that statin use contributes to analgesic use in primary care patients.
Division of General Practice, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, University Hospital Tübingen, Österbergstrasse 15, D-72074 Tübingen, Germany. dirk.mosshammer@uni-tuebingen.de
D
D
Mosshammer
J
J
Schwarz
S
S
Meznaric
R
R
Muche
G
G
Lorenz
K
K
Mörike
D000368:Aged; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000700:Analgesics; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors