Statins and the long-term risk of incident age-related macular degeneration: the Blue Mountains Eye Study

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the relationship between statin use and the long-term incidence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Design: Population-based cohort study.

Methods: Of 3,654 baseline (1992 to 1994) participants in the Blue Mountains Eye Study initially aged 49+ years, 2,335 were reexamined after five years (1997 to 1999) and 1,952 after 10 years (2002 to 2004). Stereoscopic macular photographs were graded using the Wisconsin Age-related Maculopathy Grading System. History, physical examination, and fasting blood samples provided data on possible risk factors. Discrete linear logistic models were used to assess risk of incident AMD.

Results: After controlling for age, gender, and other confounding factors, compared with nonusers, statin users had a reduced risk of developing indistinct soft drusen, the principal late AMD precursor lesion (hazard ratio, 0.33; 95% confidence interval, 0.13 to 0.84).

Conclusions: Statin use was not significantly associated with overall early AMD incidence, but was protective for indistinct soft drusen, a key late AMD precursor lesion.