The effects of the statins on skeletal muscle, anxiety, depression and quality of life

Statins are the most effective medications for reducing elevatedconcentrations of lowdensity lipoprotein cholesterol. Numerous studies have demonstrated that cholesterol lowering with statin therapy reduces morbidity and mortality from coronary heart disease and also useful in preventing stroke. Statins have been extremely well-tolerated in controlled clinical trails but can produce a skeletal myopathy with symptoms ranging from mild complaints such as myalgia,cramps, and weakness to rhabdomyolysis. Muscle performance has not been carefully examined in statin users.The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of different two statins on knee isokinetic skeletal muscle strength, patients anxiety, depression, quality of life and also muscle adverse effects of statins. We conducted the study on 63 patients who had been randomly assigned to treatment with 20 mg/day atorvastatin or rosuvastatin for three months. Patients dominant knee isokinetic muscle strength was tested and also their liver and creatine kinase measurements, muscle-related adverse reactions, anxiety, depression and quality of life levels were evaluated before and after treatment.Muscle related adverse reactions were reported by 12.5% of atorvastatin group and 9.6% ofrosuvastatin group. After treatment; in both group total work values in flexion and extension by 60°/s speed, and extension peak torque by 180°/s speed in atorvastatin group statistically reduced compared to values before treatment. İn both groupmuscle symptoms were found in 8-10% of the patients who had reduction in knee isokinetic muscle strength after treatment. There was no statistically difference in both groups anxiety, depression and life quality questionnaire between before andafter treatment. As a result, the muscle strenght of patients treated with statins should be evaluated regularly although they had no muscle complain, elevated creatine kinaselevels and also risk factor. So patients who received statin therapy should be concluded by physiatrists before starting and continued treatment for at least three months following periods.