Age-related macular degeneration and protective effect of HMG Co-A reductase inhibitors (statins): results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005–2008

Abstract

Purpose To determine the association of hydroxymethylglutarylcoenzyme A (HMG Co-A) reductase inhibitor (statin) use with the prevalence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods This cross-sectional study included 5604 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2005 to 2008, Z40 years of age, who were ascertained with regard to the diagnosis of AMD, the use of statins, and comorbidities and health-related behaviors such as smoking. Results The mean age of participants denying or confirming a history of AMD was 68 (SEM 0.90) and 55 (SEM 0.36) years, respectively. Individuals 68 years of age or older who were classified as long-term users of statins had statistically significant less self-reported AMD (odds ratio (OR) 0.64, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.49-0.84; P ¼ 0.002), after adjusting for potential confounding variables. No significant association was found between the prevalence of AMD and statin consumption among subjects between 40 and 67 years of age (OR 1.61, 95% CI 0.85-3.03; P ¼ 0.137). Conclusions Our results suggest a possible beneficial effect of statin intake for the prevention of AMD in individuals 68 years of age or older.

The Association of Statin Use with Age-Related Macular Degeneration Progression

“…17–20 Pathological studies in AMD have also demonstrated the accumulation of lipids in Bruch’s membrane similar to the atherosclerotic changes of cardiovascular disease 21–23 , suggesting that statins might have an effect on AMD. Previous observational studies demonstrated that statin use was associated with a protective effect on AMD 24–33 ; however, other studies were not confirmatory. 34–37 Lipid lowering with 40 mg of simvastatin in a small proof of concept study, was associated with a possible beneficial effect especially for those persons with bilateral intermediate AMD and those with genotype of the risk alleles for Complement Factor H (CFH) for progression to late AMD.…”

Novel association of FCGR2A polymorphism with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and development of a novel CFH real-time genotyping method

“…If such a hypothesis is proven true in the future by appropriate basic functional studies with cell cultures, it would be of paramount importance to investigate the possible use of CRP decreasing substances as a treatment option in AMD: clinical trials with statins -that are known to possess such a property among their pleiotropic effects -are now ongoing for AMD patients [44,45] . Furthermore, other SNPs in the FCG receptor family could be studied as to their contribution to genetic vulnerability for the disease, while genetics of innate immunity in all its complexity, warrant broader and more intensive investigation.…”

Nove mogućnosti liječenja „suhe” senilne makularne degeneracije

“…U nekoliko studija pokazano je da su lipidi sastavni dio druza te da se akumuliraju unutar prostora makule 102 . Barbosa sa suradnicima pokazuje da je upotreba statina statistički signifikantna u reduciranju pojave AMD-a kod pacijenata sa 68 i više godina 103 , međutim, povezanost uzimanja statina i AMD-a ostaje kontroverzna, kao što pokazuje pregledni članak Cochrane baze podataka 2012, i do danas nije pronađena nijedna studija o GA-u s tim lijekom 104 .…”