Clinical features related to statin‐associated muscle symptoms

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Statins reduce cardiovascular disease risk and are generally well tolerated, yet up to 0.5% of statin‐treated patients develop incapacitating muscle symptoms including rhabdomyolysis. Our objective was to identify clinical factors related to statin‐associated muscle symptoms (SAMS). Methods: Clinical and laboratory characteristics were evaluated in 748 statin‐treated Caucasians (634 with SAMS and 114 statin‐tolerant controls). Information was collected on statin type, concomitant drug therapies, muscle symptom history, comorbidities, and family history. Logistic regression was used to identify associations. Results: Individuals with SAMS were 3.6 times (odds ratio [OR] 3.60, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.08‐6.22) more likely than statin‐tolerant controls to have a family history of heart disease. Additional associations included obesity (OR 3.08, 95% CI 1.18, 8.05), hypertension (OR 2.24, 95% CI 1.33, 3.77), smoking (OR 2.08, 95% CI 1.16, 3.74), and statin type. Discussion: Careful medical monitoring of statin‐treated patients with the associated coexisting conditions may ultimately reduce muscle symptoms and lead to improved compliance. Muscle Nerve 59:537–537, 2019

Clinical features related to statin‐associated muscle symptoms Journal Articles