This study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Internal Medicine 2013:1-9
Study title and authors:
Statins and Musculoskeletal Conditions, Arthropathies, and Injuries
Ishak Mansi, MD; Christopher R. Frei, PharmD, MSc; Mary Jo Pugh, PhD; Una Makris, MD; Eric M. Mortensen, MD, MSc
This study can be accessed at: http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1691918
The objective of the study was to determine whether statin use is associated with musculoskeletal disorders. ( Musculoskeletal disorders can affect the body's muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments and nerves). This analysis compared 6,967 statin users with 6,967 nonusers.
The study found:
(a) Statin users had a 19% increased risk of all musculoskeletal diseases compared to nonusers.
(b) Statin users had a 13% increased risk of injury-related diseases (dislocation, sprain, strain) compared to nonusers.
(c) Statin users had a 9% increased risk of drug-associated musculoskeletal pain compared to nonusers.
(d) Statin users had a 7% increased risk of joint pain compared to nonusers.
Mansi concludes: "Musculoskeletal conditions, arthropathies, injuries, and pain are more common among statin users than among similar nonusers".
