Statin use and decline in gait speed in community-dwelling older adults

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the association between statin use and objectively assessed decline in gait speed in community-dwelling older adults.

Design: Longitudinal cohort study.

Setting: Health, Aging and Body Composition (Health ABC) Study.

Participants: Two thousand five participants aged 70-79 at baseline with medication and gait speed data at 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2001-02, and 2002-03.

Measurements: The independent variables were any statin use and their standardized daily doses (low, moderate, high) and lipophilicity. The primary outcome measure was decline in gait speed of 0.1 m/s or more in the following year of statin use. Multivariable generalized estimating equations were used, adjusting for demographic characteristics, health-related behaviors, health status, and access to health care.

Results: Statin use increased from 16.2% in 1998-99 to 25.6% in 2002-03. The overall proportions of those with decline in gait speed of 0.1 m/s or more increased from 22.2% in 1998 to 23.9% in 2003. Statin use was not associated with decline in gait speed of 0.1 m/s or more (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.90, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.77-1.06). Similar nonsignificant trends were also seen with the use of hydrophilic or lipophilic statins. Users of low-dose statins were found to have a 22% lower risk of decline in gait speed than nonusers (AOR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.61-0.99), which was mainly driven by the results from 1999-2000 follow-up.

Conclusion: These results suggest that statin use did not increase decline in gait speed in community-dwelling older adults.

Keywords: aged; gait speed; hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors; physical function; statins.