Effects of statin use on functional capacity and muscle mass in elderly women

3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors (statins) may produce mild to severe myopathy. However, it is unclear if sarcopenia (decreased muscle mass and functional capacity) is also accentuated by the drugs. In a cross-sectional design, functional capacity (timed up and go, quadriceps- and hand grip strength) and lean body mass were compared between 71 low-dose statin users (<20 mg/day) and 57 age- and BMI-matched control subjects (all apparently healthy elderly women aged 74.6±5.3 years). Possible confounding factors were assessed by questionnaires. A fasted blood sample was taken to measure serum creatine kinase levels to search for muscle damage. Statin users had higher functional capacity than controls (quadriceps strength 25.3±7.5 kg vs. 20.5±6.3 kg in controls, P<0.001; timed up and go 9.7±2.1 s vs. 10.8±2.6 s in controls, P=0.01). After adjusting for confounding factors, this effect was not created by statin intake but by a difference in socioeconomic status between the two groups. Hand grip strength (20.6±4.3 kg vs. 19.9±3.8 kg, P=0.47) and lean body mass (36.3±4.1 kg vs. 35.6±4.6 kg, P=0.19) did not differ between statin users and controls. Muscle mass and functional capacity were not affected by statin intake but by socioeconomic status in elderly women.