title: Statin Use and Self-Reported Hindering Muscle Complaints in Older Persons: A Population Based Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Statins are widely used by older persons in primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Although serious adverse events are rare, many statin users report mild muscle pain and/or muscle weakness. It's unclear what impact statins exert on a patient's daily life. Research on statin related side effects in older persons is relatively scarce. We therefore investigated the relation between statin use and self-reported hindering muscle complaints in older persons in the general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present research was performed within the Integrated Systematic Care for Older Persons (ISCOPE) study in the Netherlands (Netherlands trial register, NTR1946). All registered adults aged ≥ 75 years from 59 participating practices (n = 12,066) were targeted. Information about the medical history and statin use at baseline and after 9 months was available for 4355 participants from the Electronic Patient Records of the general practitioners. In the screening questionnaire at baseline we asked participants: 'At the moment, which health complaints limit you the most in your day-to-day life?' Answers indicating muscle or musculoskeletal complaints were coded as such. No specific questions about muscle complaints were asked.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The participants had a median age of 80.3 (IQR 77.6-84.4) years, 60.8% were female and 28.5% had a history of CVD. At baseline 29% used a statin. At follow-up, no difference was found in the prevalence of self-reported hindering muscle complaints in statin users compared to non-statin users (3.3% vs. 2.5%, OR 1.39, 95% CI 0.94-2.05; P = 0.98). Discontinuation of statin use during follow-up was independent of self-reported hindering muscle complaints.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the present findings, prevalent statin use in this community-dwelling older population is not associated with self-reported hindering muscle complaints; however, the results might be different for incident users.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Milly A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: van der Ploeg
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Rosalinde K E
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Poortvliet
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sophie C E
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: van Blijswijk
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.|Department of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Wendy P J
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: den Elzen
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Petra G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: van Peet
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Wouter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: de Ruijter
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jeanet W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Blom
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jacobijn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gussekloo
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D057566:Self Report
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors