Relation of Statin Use to the 5-Year Incidence and Progression of Age-Related Maculopathy

Abstract

To examine the association of hydroxymethyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) with the 5-year incidence of age-related maculopathy (ARM). Design: Population-based cohort study. Participants included persons 48 to 91 years old examined March 1, 1993, through June 14, 1995, living in Beaver Dam, Wis (N=3684), of whom 2780 participated in a follow-up 5 years later. Methods: Standardized procedures were used for physical examinations, blood sample collection, and questionnaire administration. Age-related maculopathy was determined by grading images of the posterior pole using a standard protocol. Standard univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Main Outcome Measures: Incidence and progression of ARM was measured over the 5-year interval. Results: While controlling for age and sex, statin use was not found to be associated with the 5-year incidence of early ARM (odds ratio [OR], 1.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.47-2.67), progression of ARM (OR, 1.22; 95% CI, 0.54-2.76), or incidence of late ARM (OR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.12-1.45). Conclusions: These findings do not suggest an association between statin use and incident ARM over a 5-year period. Further investigation of these relationships in larger studies over a longer period is needed.

Role of Lipids in Retinal Vascular and Macular Disorders

“…The Rotterdam and several other studies did not find a relationship between cholesterol-lowering medication [30][31][32] including statins [33] and risk of AMD. McGwin Jr. et al [34] evaluated the association between the use of cholesterol-lowering medications and AMD in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study, a large, prospective, population-based cohort study conducted in four communities across the United States.…”

“…The association between the use of cholesterol-lowering medications, including statins, and AMD has also been intensively studied, but results are inconsistent [30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37]. The Rotterdam and several other studies did not find a relationship between cholesterol-lowering medication [30][31][32] including statins [33] and risk of AMD.…”

Age-related macular degeneration and protective effect of HMG Co-A reductase inhibitors (statins): results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005–2008

“…Most of studies are case-control and population-based Table 5 Studies' distribution of statins intake and age-related macular degeneration from 1991 to 2012 and their respective type, number of participants, and conclusion cohorts. 9,10,14,[23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33] There are four randomized clinical trials (RCTs), which evaluated the use of statins and AMD. 27,[34][35][36] The first RCT by Martini et al 36 and two other recent RCTs 27,34 that evaluated statin use and AMD did not find a significant protective association with AMD development.…”

Therapeutic Potential of Statins in Age-related Macular Degeneration

“…Data from large population-based studies, including previous analyses from the Blue Mountains and Beaver Dam studies, have not found a protective association between statin use and ARMD (Klein et al, 2003). Some workers also stated that statin use is not reducing the risk for wet ARMD (van Leeuwen et al, 2004;Kaiserman et al, 2009).…”

“…The general consensus remains that a randomised trial of statin use in ARMD patients is warranted (Klein et al, 2003;McGwin et al, 2003;2005;Wilson et al, 2004;Chuo et al, 2007;Wong and Rogers, 2007). Wong and Rogers (2007) also proposed the initiation of a randomised controlled trial.…”