Professor says it's a serious concern that statins make people less likely to exercise

This study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Internal Medicine 2014 Jun 9

Study title and authors:
Statins and Physical Activity in Older Men: The Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study.

Lee DS, Markwardt S, Goeres L, Lee CG, Eckstrom E, Williams C, Fu R, Orwoll E, Cawthon PM, Stefanick ML, Mackey D, Bauer DC, Nielson CM.
Department of Pharmacy Practice, Oregon State University/Oregon Health and Science University College of Pharmacy, Portland.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24911216

The objective of the study was to determine the effects of statins on physical activity. The study lasted for nine years and included 4,137 men (989 men (24%) were statin users and 3148 (76%) were nonusers) aged 65 years and older. The Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) was used to measure physical activity. (A higher PASE score indicates a higher level of activity).

The study found:
(a) At the start of the study statin users had a 5.8 points lower PASE score than non users.
(b) PASE score declined by 2.5 points per year for non users.
(c) PASE score declined by 2.8 points per year for prevalent users of statins.
(d) PASE score declined by 3.4 points per year for new users of statins.
(e) Statin users engaged in 5.4 fewer minutes in moderate physical activity per day than non users.
(f) Statin users engaged in 0.6 fewer minutes in vigorous physical activity per day than non users.
(g) Statin users engaged in 7.6 more minutes in sedentary behaviour per day than non users.

Lead author of the study, David Lee, an assistant professor in the Orgeon State University and the Oregon Health and Science College of Pharmacy, said: "Physical activity in older adults helps to maintain a proper weight, prevent cardiovascular disease and helps to maintain physical strength and function. We're trying to find ways to get older adults to exercise more, not less. It's a fairly serious concern if use of statins is doing something that makes people less likely to exercise".

Links to other studies:
Statins block the ability of exercise to improve fitness levels
Statins, fibrates and beta blockers increase fatigue during moderate intensity exercise
Rhabdomyolysis occurring under statins after intense physical activity in a marathon runner