Objective: To examine the association of hydroxymethyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) with the 5-year incidence of age-related maculopathy (ARM).
Design: Population-based cohort study. Participants included persons 48 to 91 years old examined March 1, 1993, through June 14, 1995, living in Beaver Dam, Wis (N = 3684), of whom 2780 participated in a follow-up 5 years later.
Methods: Standardized procedures were used for physical examinations, blood sample collection, and questionnaire administration. Age-related maculopathy was determined by grading images of the posterior pole using a standard protocol. Standard univariate and multivariate analyses were performed.
Main outcome measures: Incidence and progression of ARM was measured over the 5-year interval.
Results: While controlling for age and sex, statin use was not found to be associated with the 5-year incidence of early ARM (odds ratio [OR], 1.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.47-2.67), progression of ARM (OR, 1.22; 95% CI, 0.54-2.76), or incidence of late ARM (OR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.12-1.45).
Conclusions: These findings do not suggest an association between statin use and incident ARM over a 5-year period. Further investigation of these relationships in larger studies over a longer period is needed.