Statins may be associated with an increase in the risk of age related macular degeneration

This study was published in Current Drug Safety 2008 Jan;3(1):24-6

 

Study title and authors:

Use of statins and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-Is) and the risk of age-related macular degeneration: nested case-control study.

Etminan M, Brophy JM, Maberley D.

Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluation, Vancouver General Hospital, 7 Floor - 828 West 10 Ave., Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. metminan@shaw.ca

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18690977

Age related macular degeneration is a progressive degenerative disease affecting central vision.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors) are drugs that are used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure.

This study sought to explore the association between statins, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and the development of age related macular degeneration. The study included 2,867 patients, aged 65 years or older, with age related macular degeneration who were compared with 11,468 controls who were free from age related macular degeneration.

The study found:
(a) Those using statin drugs had a 30% increased risk of developing age related macular degeneration compared to those not using statins.
(b) Those using angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor drugs had a 19% increased risk of developing age related macular degeneration compared to those not using angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors.

The study concludes: "Based on the results of our study, statin and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor use may be associated with an increase in the risk of age related macular degeneration".