The association of statin use with peripheral neuropathy in the US
population 40 years of age or older
Edward F Tierney1,*, David J. Thurman2, Gloria L. Beckles1, Betsy L.
Cadwell3
DOI: 10.1111/1753-0407.12013

Abstract
Background
Peripheral neuropathy is a serious complication of
diabetes and several conditions that may lead to loss of
lower extremity function and even amputations. Since their
introduction, the use of statin drugs has increased
dramatically. Recent reports suggest a role for statins in
the development of peripheral neuropathy. Our aims in this
study were to assess the association between statin use
and peripheral neuropathy and to determine whether this
association varied by diabetes status.
Method
We used the lower extremity examination supplement in the
1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
(NHANES).
Results
Overall prevalence of statin use was 15%, and the
prevalence of peripheral neuropathy was 14.9%. The
prevalence of peripheral neuropathy was significantly
higher among those who used statins compared to those who
did not (23.5% vs. 13.5%; p < 0.01). In multivariate
logistic regression, statin use (Adj. OR 1.3, 95% CI
1.1-1.6, Wald p-value 0.04) was significantly associated
with peripheral neuropathy, controlling for diabetes
status, age, gender, race, height, weight, blood lead
levels, poverty, glycohemoglobin, use of vitamin B,
alcohol abuse, hypertension, and non-HDL cholesterol.
Diabetes status, age, gender, height, weight, blood lead
levels, poverty, and glycohemoglobin were also
significantly associated with peripheral neuropathy. We
found no effect modification between statin use and
diabetes status, race, gender, age, vitamin B12, blood
lead levels, or alcohol abuse.
Conclusions
In this cross-sectional study, we found a modest
association between peripheral neuropathy and statin use.
Prospective studies are required to determine the causal
direction.

Published 2012. This article is a U.S. Government work and
is in the public domain in the USA