Abstract
Aim: Some patients experience statin-associated muscle symptoms (SAMS) and elevated serum concentrations of CK. The relationship between SAMS and biomarkers of muscle damage was examined. Methods: We analyzed 359 consecutive patients taking statins with high CK values. Muscle-related symptoms and biochemical variables, including CK, MB isoenzyme of creatine kinase (CK-MB), troponin and carbonic anhydrase type III were evaluated. Results: SAMS was reported by 181 (50.4%) patients and they had greater BMI (p = 0.021) and a trend toward higher CK-MB values (p = 0.064). The use of simvastatin (OR: 2.24; 95% CI: 1.47–3.42), CK-MB (OR: 1.59; 95% CI: 1.02–2.49) and BMI (OR: 1.06; 95% CI: 1.01–1.10) were independent variables for SAMS. Conclusion: Simvastatin use, BMI and CK-MB were independent markers of SAMS.
Financial & competing interests disclosure
The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.
Ethical conduct of research
This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the University of São Paulo Medical School Hospital (CAPPesq: 1119/09). In addition, for investigations involving human subjects, informed consent has been obtained from the participants involved.