BACKGROUND: Muscular complaints are known side-effects of statin therapy, 
ranging from myalgia to clinically important myositis and rhabdomyolysis. We 
investigated the statin use and association with the presence and 
characteristics of muscular complaints.
METHODS: We conducted a prospective observational study in internal medicine 
departments. Patients with statin therapy before hospitalization were 
interviewed for muscular complaints. When muscular complaints were reported, 
information on type and severity of muscular symptoms, location and time to 
onset was collected.
RESULTS: We identified 85 patients with statin treatment at hospital admission 
out of 521 included. Nine (10.59%) patients reported muscular complaints 
associated with statin therapy. A cluster of symptoms (cramps, stiffness, 
decreased muscle power) was reported, affecting both upper and lower limbs. The 
severity of pain was in most of the cases moderate or severe. All patients 
reported that pain was intermittent. Five reported that pain was generalized. 
Symptoms appeared in the first month of treatment or three months after the drug 
initiation. Creatine kinase was raised in one patient. In two cases drug 
interactions were probably responsible for muscular complaints.
CONCLUSION: In the studied set of patients muscular symptoms were a rather 
frequent effect of statin therapy. As this side-effect could be troublesome for 
patients and could lead to more severe outcomes, their timely detection and 
management is important.