Long-term use of statins can reduce the risk of mental disorders, regardless of the effect on serum cholesterol levels, researchers from Boston in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology report on August 20.

"More than 10 years ago, a discussion began about the possible association of too aggressive reduction in cholesterol levels with depression and aberrant behavior," recall Dr. Charles M. Blatt and his colleagues (Harvard School of Public Health). Interest in this problem did not weaken, in view of the widening of the spectrum of indications for statin use, which is not limited to IHD.

The authors conducted a prospective cohort study among patients who received statins as an outpatient. In 1994 year. the study included 140 people permanently taking statins, 231 participants who never received lipid-lowering therapy, and 219 patients who took statins irregularly. Every year, all participants completed the Kellner questionnaire. The mean follow-up time was 4 years, the maximum was 7 years.

According to Dr. Blatt's co-author, Dr. Yinong Young-Xu, "there was a 30-40% reduction in the risk of anxiety, depression and hostility". Permanent use of statins was associated with a significant reduction in the likelihood of these disorders: odds ratio 0. 63, 0. 69 and 0. 77, respectively. This association remained statistically significant even after correction for baseline characteristics and complications during observation. Neither the baseline serum cholesterol level nor its dynamics influenced the analyzed psychometric parameters. Moreover, the probability of violations of the psycho-emotional sphere decreased with each year of taking statins.

"Although the results do not indicate that taking statins alone improves the psycho-emotional well-being of patients, they nevertheless support this hypothesis," comments Dr C. Keith Haddock (University of Missouri, Kansas City). "Probably, the risk factors of IHD predispose to the development of depression, and statins hamper this process".

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