Abstract 15951: Psychosocial Wellbeing Does Not Affect Muscle Pain and Quality of Life During Atorvastatin Treatment

Abstract

Introduction: HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) are generally well-tolerated, although muscle weakness and pain have been reported in ~10% of statin users. However, many self-reported muscle side effects are non-specific. As mental health influences self-perception of pain, we sought to assess the effect of baseline well-being and depression on self-reported muscle pain and quality of life (QOL) after 6 months of atorvastatin (ATORVA) 80 mg/d or placebo in healthy, statin-naïve adults. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that lower levels of well-being and higher levels of depression would result in higher self-reported pain that interferes with QOL after statin therapy. Methods: The Psychological General Well-Being Index (Well-Being; n=82) and Beck Depression Inventory (Depression; n=55) were administered at baseline in subjects (aged 59.5+1.2 yrs) from STOMP (Effect of Statins on Skeletal Muscle Performance; Clinical Trials #NCT00609063). Muscle pain (Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire [SF-MPG]) and pain that interferes with QOL (Brief Pain Inventory [BPI]), were also measured before and after drug treatment. Results: At baseline, there were no group differences in Well-Being, Depression, or pain measures between groups (ps ≥0.05). Baseline Well-Being correlated with baseline BPI pain severity (r=-0.309, p<0.01) and BPI pain interference with QOL (r=-0.271, p<0.05); including both affective and activity subcomponents (ps<0.05). Baseline Depression correlated with baseline pain (r=0.313, p<0.05). Pain severity and interference with QOL scores were not different between statin users and controls after 6 mo of ATORVA (ps≥0.05). Baseline Well-Being and Depression were not significant predictors of pain after 6 mo of ATORVA (ps≥0.05 for overall effects and interactions). Conclusions: Lower levels of psychosocial well-being and higher levels of depression are associated with greater non-specific muscle pain, however, they are not associated with statin-associated muscle side effects or QOL after 6 mo of ATORVA in otherwise healthy adults. Trial Registration: NCT00609063