Statins may reduce risk of fractures in elderly men: Study

A new study highlighted a potential link between statin therapy and a lower risk of fractures, particularly in older male individuals with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). This research published in the PLOS ONE journal provides fresh insights based on an extensive analysis of U.S. population data.

The study utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning 2001 to 2020, examined the records of 9,893 participants. This research investigated whether statin use influenced fracture risks in the general population and among individuals with CVDs. Statin and fracture histories were gathered through questionnaires, and weighted logistic regressions were conducted to identify any significant associations.

The key findings indicate that statin use is associated with a reduced risk of fractures in men aged over 50 who had been on the medication for less than 3 years. These protective effects were primarily observed with atorvastatin and rosuvastatin, two commonly prescribed statins. Adjustments were made for potential confounding factors, including calcium and vitamin D supplementation.

Also, the protective benefits of statins were more pronounced in individuals with CVDs (odds ratio [OR]: 0.4366; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.2664 to 0.7154; P = 0.0014) and in the ones without diabetes (OR: 0.3632; 95% CI: 0.1712 to 0.7704; P = 0.0091). However, the study found no evidence that the levels of LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) or vitamin D metabolites (25[OH]D) mediated the observed effects, suggesting that the benefits might arise from other pathways.

The findings emphasize that the duration of statin use and specific patient profiles significantly influence outcomes. While men over 50 showed clear benefits, gender variations and longer-term use require further investigation. Also, the absence of significant effects in diabetic patients points to potential interactions between diabetes and bone health that merit deeper exploration.

Overall, this study suggest that statins, particularly atorvastatin and rosuvastatin, may offer a dual advantage for older male CVD patients, addressing cardiovascular risk while also reducing fracture risk. However, more extensive research is needed to refine these conclusions and address the remaining uncertainties regarding gender differences, medication duration, and diabetes.

Source:

Sun, X., Liu, X., Wang, C., Luo, Y., Li, X., Yan, L., Wang, Y., Wang, K., & Li, Q. (2024). Advantages of statin usage in preventing fractures for men over 50 in the United States: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. In H. T. Ong (Ed.), PLOS ONE (Vol. 19, Issue 11, p. e0313583). Public Library of Science (PLoS). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0313583