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# Statins cause musculoskeletal pain in those without arthritis
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/statins_cause_musculoskeletal_pain_0123120817/
- Published: 2012-01-23T21:16:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T16:08:50.000Z
- Description: Among 5,170 NHANES respondents without arthritis, 23 percent of statin users reported musculoskeletal pain versus 18 percent of non-users. After adjustment, statin use tracked with 33 percent more pain overall and 59 percent more in the lower extremities. Arthritis patients showed no such link.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Drug, Health News, Statins, Pain, Arthritis, #vivvo-import

David Liu, PHD

Monday Jan 23, 2012 (foodconsumer.org) -- A new study suggest that statins, which are used to prevent heart disease, may increase risk for musculoskeletal pain among individuals without arthritis. But the same study also suggests that the risk was not increased among users of statins who had arthritis.

For the study, researchers examined the association between use of statins and the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain based on data from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey 1999 - 2004.

Among 5170 survey subjects without arthritis, 23 percent of statin users reported musculoskeletal pain in any region, compared to 18 percent among those who did not use statins. In the lower extremities, pain was reported by 12 percent of statin users, compared to 8 percent among those who did not use the medication.

The association was not found among arthritis patients who used statins.

After adjustment for confounders, statin use was correlated with a significantly higher prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in any part (33 percent higher), the lower back (47 percent higher) and lower extremities (59 percent higher), among those who had no arthritis. 

But no association was found among those having arthritis, even after adjustment for other risk factors.

Researchers conclude that "In this population-based study, statin use was associated with a higher prevalence of musculoskeletal pain, particularly in the lower extremities, among individuals without arthritis. Evidence that statin use was associated with musculoskeletal pain among those with arthritis was lacking."

The study titled "Statin Use and Musculoskeletal Pain Among Adults With and Without Arthritis" was conducted by Catherine Buettner, MD, MPH, of Harvard Medical School in Boston, Mass and colleagues and published in the Feb 2012 issue of the American Journal of Medicine.

Statins are used primarily to lower low density lipoprotein in the blood to reduce risk of cardiovascular disease. It is believed that high LDL contributes to the risk for the disease. But some studies suggest that cholesterol may not be the major risk factor for these diseases.

While statins help people who have had prior heart disease, they are not cost-effective in helping those who do not have any prior heart conditions. Recently, drug companies have tried to explore new applications for the type of medication and found statins may help reduce certain types of cancer.

Statins as a treatment to lower cholesterol do not seem necessary. Many alternative treatments may be equally or more effective and much safer in preventing heart disease.

Keywords: Musculoskeletal diseases, statins, arthritis, hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors.