Long-term exposure to statins may substantially increase the risk of polyneuropathy

This post contains a summary of a study published in Neurology 2002 May 14;58(9):1333-7

Study title and authors:
Statins and risk of polyneuropathy: a case-control study.


Books:

Gaist D, Jeppesen U, Andersen M, García Rodríguez LA, Hallas J, Sindrup SH.

Department of Neurology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark. dgaist@health.sdu.dk

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12011277
 
Damage to the peripheral nerves is called polyneuropathy. Pain, numbness or tingling starts in the feet or fingers and may spread.

This study investigated the risk of polyneuropathy in statin users. The authors of the study used a patient registry to identify first-time-ever cases of polyneuropathy. They found 166 cases of polyneuropathy and each case was compared with 25 control subjects. The cases were classified as definite (35), probable (54), or possible (77).

The study found:
(a) In all cases of polyneuropathy statin users had a 270% increased risk of developing the disease compared to non-users.
(b) In definite cases of polyneuropathy statin users had a 1320% increased risk of developing the disease compared to non-users.
(c) In all cases of polyneuropathy current statin users had a 360% increased risk of developing the disease compared to non-users.
(d) In definite cases of polyneuropathy current statin users had a 1510% increased risk of developing the disease compared to non-users.
(e) In definite cases of polyneuropathy patients treated with statins for two or more years had a 2640% increased risk of developing the disease compared to non-users.

The lead author of the study, Dr David Gaist from Odense University Hospital, concluded: "Long-term exposure to statins may substantially increase the risk of polyneuropathy".
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