Statin Use and Decline in Gait Speed in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

ObjectivesTo examine the association between statin use and objectively assessed decline in gait speed in community-dwelling older adults. DesignLongitudinal cohort study. SettingHealth, Aging and Body Composition (Health ABC) Study. ParticipantsTwo thousand five participants aged 70-79 at baseline with medication and gait speed data at 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2001-02, and 2002-03. MeasurementsThe 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 0.1m/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. ResultsStatin 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 0.1m/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 0.1m/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. ConclusionThese results suggest that statin use did not increase decline in gait speed in community-dwelling older adults.