STATIN USE AND LONGITUDINAL CHANGES IN THIGH MUSCLE QUALITY: A PROPENSITY-SCORE MATCHED STUDY

Abstract

Purpose: Subjective statin-associated musculoskeletal symptoms such as myalgia are commonly reported and contribute to statins' non-adherence. Several trials have recently suggested that in the absence of rare myositis, such symptoms are probably a placebo effect. While statins rarely substantial increase (> ten times normal) in creatine kinase (CK) levels as an indicator of muscle injury, studies have shown they can commonly cause a mild increase in serum CK, suggesting that statins produce mild muscle injury even among asymptomatic subjects.