Attached
Introduction
Statin-related muscle disease (SRMD) which
affects quality of life and exercise tolerance is
often overlooked.
Objectives
Objective of this study was to describe
prevalence and associated factors of SRMD in
clinical practice. It has not been studied in Sri
Lanka previously.
Method
Consecutive patients receiving statin therapy
at outpatient clinics of a tertiary-care hospital <
who were screened for a clinical trial on '
SRMD were studied. Details were recorded
using an interviewer administered !
questionnaire. SRMD was defined as presence
of muscle symptoms started after initiation of j
statins with no alternative cause detected
after clinical assessment, and investigations. Myositis was defined as SRMD with elevated
creatine phosphokinase. Data were analysed
with SPSS version-19.0
Results
375 patients were studied; 63.7% were
females; mean age was 63.2±10years. All
were on atorvastatin (dose: mean 16.5mg,
range 5-40mg; duration: mean 64.2 months,
range 1-241 months). Prevalence of SRMD
and myositis was 14.7% (55/375) and 2.1%
(8/375), respectively. Most frequent
symptoms were cramps (81.8%) and myalgia
(43.6%). Mean severity score (Visual Analogue
Scale) was 5.4 (range: 2-10). Severity was
more ih women (6.3 Vs 4.2; p=0.015). Mean
duration of therapy before onset of SRMD
was 53.8months (median: 48months range: 1-
172months). 27.3% were on co-medications
potentially affecting atorvastatin metabolism.
No association was found between SRMD and
age, gender, atorvastatin dose, treatment
duration or co-medications.
Conclusions
Prevalence of statin-related muscle disease
was high and of moderate severity in the
study population. It is compatible with reports
from other countries. No factors associated
with SRMD were identified in this population.
