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

Abstract

To assess the relationship between statin use and the long-term incidence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Population-based cohort study. 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. 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). Statin use was not significantly associated with overall early AMD incidence, but was protective for indistinct soft drusen, a key late AMD precursor lesion.