Neuro-cognitive profile of adult statin users at a large tertiary care hospital in Delhi, India

Background Statins are the most widely prescribed drugs for dyslipidemia and CAD. But evidence on their cognitive effects is conflicting. A unique genetic makeup and variable lipid patterns make South Asians more susceptible to statin adverse effects. But literature on statin safety in this group is scarce. We aimed to assess the cognitive status of adult Indian statin users over two years and explore factors associated with it. Methods A prospective cohort was established for cognitive profiling of adult statin users, visiting the out-patient cardiology department of a tertiary care center in North India. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale measured cognitive function. Analysis was conducted using mixed-effects linear regression modelling to account for repeated measurements. Results 273 participants were enrolled. The mean cognitive score was 15. Age and education were significant predictors of cognition ( P -value .005 and <.001 respectively). Participants over 60 scored had significantly lower scores and those who had completed secondary school and above scored significantly higher scores. No significant associations were observed between cognitive score and other covariates- sex, follow-up period, statin type and duration of use. Conclusion The statins-cognition relationship is controversial. This study demonstrated statistically significant relationships of cognition with age and education and showed no change in cognition over 2 years. The findings provide hypotheses for more in-depth assessments. Statins remain the most effective lipid-lowering treatment. However, further research is warranted for a more holistic understanding of the issue & optimizing their risk-benefit ratio.