title: Difference in occurrence of muscle-related adverse effects of statins among male and female geriatric patients: A cross-sectional observational study.
abstract: Statins are the most widely used agents for the treatment of dyslipidaemias in geriatric patients. Muscle-related adverse effects (MRAE) are one of the most common toxicities of statins. Female gender has been mentioned as the risk factor for the development of MRAE of statins; however, there are inconclusive data regarding the difference in the occurrence of MRAE among male and female geriatric users.
  
  
  
  The main objective was to find the difference in the occurrence of MRAE of statins among male and female geriatric statin users.
  
  
  
  In this cross-sectional, observational, comparative study, relevant patient information and MRAE associated with statin use were noted. Creatine phosphokinase (CPK) levels were obtained for all patients as this is considered as the marker for statin-induced muscle damage. The parameters were compared among male and female geriatric statin users.
  
  
  
  172 geriatric patients (86 male and 86 female statin users) were enrolled in the study. 38 (22%) geriatric statin users were found to have MRAE and significantly more number of female patients had MRAE as compared to male patients (25 vs. 13 P = 0.02). Significantly more number of female patients had elevated CPK as compared to male patients (20 vs. 8, P = 0.01). No significant difference was observed in CPK levels among male and female statin users.
  
  
  
  Statin-induced MRAE tend to occur with more frequency in geriatric female patients as compared to male geriatric patients; however, further research in the form of prospective studies is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Harmanjit
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Avinash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chakrawarti
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guruprasad
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Harjit
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Yogendra Kumar
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Gupta
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000032:analysis*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009549:Nigeria; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D003402:Creatine Kinase