Association Between Lipid-Lowering Drug Use and Sarcopenia: Analysis of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
10.12997/jla.2026.15.1.151
- Author:
Ah-Reum SHIN
1
;
Keun-Gyu PARK
;
Sung-Woo KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, The Bone Union Orthopedics Clinic, Daegu, Korea
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Journal of Lipid and Atherosclerosis
2026;15(1):151-160
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Objective:Lipid-lowering drugs are known to cause various muscle-related side effects;however, it remains unclear whether their use contributes to reduced muscle mass and sarcopenia. This study aimed to evaluate the association between the use of lipid-lowering drugs and both muscle mass and the prevalence of sarcopenia.
Methods:We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using data from 18,668 adults aged ≥20 years from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008–2011.Sarcopenia was defined based on appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM), measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The association between hyperlipidemia medication and the prevalence of sarcopenia was estimated using complex samples logistic regression.
Results:Patients with hyperlipidemia exhibited lower ASM/wt than those without hyperlipidemia. After adjusting for potential confounders, including current lipid profiles, ASM/wt did not differ significantly between the general population and hyperlipidemic patients not receiving medication. However, individuals taking lipid-lowering drugs demonstrated significantly lower ASM/wt. This trend was mirrored in sarcopenia prevalence, with odds ratios of 2.89 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.95–4.28) in men and 1.68 (95% CI, 1.26–2.24) in women (p<0.01 for both). Notably, only participants on lipid-lowering drugs showed a progressive decline in ASM/wt and an increased risk of sarcopenia with longer duration of hyperlipidemia.
Conclusion:These results suggest that the use of lipid-lowering drugs may contribute to a decrease in muscle mass and a higher risk of sarcopenia. However, the generalizability of these results is limited, and further longitudinal studies are required to confirm the association.
