Statin Use Is Associated with Excess Risk for Cataracts

Observational studies of risk for cataracts with statin use have yielded conflicting results. Using data collected between 2003 and 2010 in the clinical and administrative database of a military healthcare system in Texas, researchers conducted a retrospective cohort analysis that involved 6972 pairs of statin users and nonusers. Statin users were defined as patients who received at least 90-day supplies of statin medications at baseline (mean duration of statin use, ≈5 years). Participant pairs were matched for 44 clinical, medication, and healthcare variables associated with either likelihood of receiving a statin or risk for developing cataracts.

During up to 6 years of follow-up, risk for developing cataracts was 35.5% among statin users and 33.5% among nonusers — a significant difference. An increased risk associated with statin use also was noted in a secondary analysis restricted to patients with few comorbidities.