Statin users have poorer leaning balance which may potentially increase fall risk in this group. - GreenMedInfo Summary
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN HMG-CoA REDUCTASE INHIBITORS (STATIN) USE AND STRENGTH, BALANCE AND FALLS IN OLDER PEOPLE.
Intern Med J. 2011 Oct 27. Epub 2011 Oct 27. PMID: 22032261
Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Australia Falls and Balance Research Group, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, Australia.
Aims To investigate associations between HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin) use and muscle strength, balance, mobility and falls in older people. Methods Five hundred community-dwelling people aged 70-90 years provided information about their medication use and undertook tests of lower limb strength, postural sway, leaning balance (maximal balance range and coordinated stability tests) and functional mobility. Participants were then followed up for 12 months with respect to falls. Results After adjusting for general health in ANCOVA procedures, statin users had poorer maximal balance range than non statin users (p=.017). Statin and non-statin users did not differ with respect to strength, postural sway, mobility or falls experienced in the follow-up year. Conclusion In a sample of healthy older people, statin use was not associated with muscle weakness, postural sway, reduced mobility or falls. Statin users, however, had poorer leaning balance which may potentially increase fall risk in this group.
