The effect of statins intake on sleep quality

Introduction:
It is hypothesized that statin therapies might be connected with an increased risk of sleep disturbances. The objective of the study was to examine the association between use of statins (atorvastatin and rosuvastatin) and the risk of sleep disturbances compared with a group of patients who do not receive statin therapy. Additionally, we compared the effect of atorvastatin and rosuvastatin on sleep quality.

Material and methods:
We examined 135 patients (62 males, 73 females, mean age: 71.1 ± 10.2) with indications for chronic statin therapy (85 patients taking atorvastatin, 50 patients taking rosuvastatin) and 65 individuals without statin therapy as the control group (23 males, 42 females, mean age: 65.8 ± 11.6). The effect of statin on sleep parameters was assessed using the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). The exclusion criteria were use of hypnotic drugs, obstructive sleep apnoea, decompensated heart failure, and prostatic hyperplasia.

Results:
Our results showed that patients during atorvastatin or rosuvastatin therapy obtain a significantly higher number of points in the following: AIS compared to the control group (p < 0.001, p < 0.01), PSQI compared to the control group (p < 0.001), and ISI compared to the control group (p < 0.001, p < 0.05). Patients during atorvastatin or rosuvastatin therapy obtain a significantly higher number of points in the AIS in the first 5 questions about sleep-related symptoms compared to the control group.

Conclusions:
This study indicated that patients taking atorvastatin or rosuvastatin reported sleep disturbances more often than patients without statin therapy.