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Onset of Musculoskeletal Adverse Events Varies Between Statins

Significantly faster onset with atorvastatin, rosuvastatin versus simvastatin during monotherapy

MONDAY, Nov. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The onset of musculoskeletal adverse events (MAEs) during statin monotherapy is significantly faster with use of atorvastatin and rosuvastatin versus simvastatin, according to a study published online Nov. 7 in Pharmacology Research & Perspectives.

Hayato Akimoto, from Josai University in Sakado, Japan, and colleagues examined onset timing of MAEs during statin monotherapy by determining the difference between the date of statin initiation and MAE onset using data from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System Data Files. The use of concomitant drugs was included in the analysis to examine whether their use shifted the onset timing of MAEs.

The researchers found that MAE onset was significantly faster with atorvastatin (median 24.5 days; P < 0.01) and rosuvastatin (median 30.0 days; P < 0.05) versus simvastatin (median 38.0 days). Due to the small number of cases, no difference was detected with other statins. Concomitant drugs that shifted the onset timing for MAEs were not detected.

“Passive surveillance of adverse events has played a major role in securing drug safety as a system to detect unknown adverse events,” a coauthor said in a statement. “Data mining using Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System, which is a large-scale database, will be an aid to enhance drug safety.”

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