Persistence with Statins and Incident Cataract: A Population-Based Historical Cohort Study

Purpose

In recent years, there is a growing body of evidence suggesting that statins may have anti-inflammatory effects; consequently, it was hypothesized that statins may have a preventive effect against cataract.

Methods

The study was carried out on a retrospective cohort of 180,291 new statin users in a large health organization in Israel. Study participants were followed between 1998 and 2007 for incident cataract or cataract extraction.

Results

During the study period 27,301 cataracts were diagnosed and 6,976 cataract extractions were performed among study participants. Persistence with statins was associated significantly (P < 0.001) with a reduced risk of cataract in men and women aged 45 to 74. Men aged 45–54 with a high (>80%) proportion of follow-up days covered with statins had an adjusted hazard ratio of 0.62 (95% confidence interval: 0.54–0.72), compared with patients with low persistence with statins. In elderly patients, no relationship or a positive relationship was observed.

Conclusions

Persistent statin use was significantly protective for the incidence of cataract in men and women under 75 years of age.

Key words: Statins, Cataract, Lens Opacities, Israel

Selected Abbreviations and Acronyms: LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, MHS, Maccabi Healthcare Services, HMO, health maintenance organization, PDC, proportion of days covered, CI, confidence interval, ICD-CM, International Classification of Diseases–Clinical Modification, NII, National Insurance Institute