Association between Statin Use and Risk of Dementia after a Concussion

Abstract

Importance: Concussions are an acute injury that may lead to chronic disability, while statin use might improve neurologic recovery. Objective: To test whether statin use is associated with an increased or decreased risk of subsequent dementia after a concussion. Design, Setting, and Participants: Large extended population-based double cohort study in Ontario, Canada, from April 1, 1993, to April 1, 2013 (enrollment), and continued until March 31, 2016 (follow-up). Dates of analysis were April 28, 2014, through March 21, 2019. Participants were older adults diagnosed as having a concussion, excluding severe cases resulting in hospitalization, individuals with a prior diagnosis of dementia or delirium, and those who died within 90 days. Exposure: Statin prescription within 90 days after a concussion. Main Outcome and Measure: Long-term incidence of dementia. Results: This study identified 28815 patients diagnosed as having a concussion (median age, 76 years; 61.3% female), of whom 7058 (24.5%) received a statin, and 21757 (75.5%) did not receive a statin. A total of 4727 patients subsequently developed dementia over a mean follow-up of 3.9 years, equal to an incidence of 1 case per 6 patients. Patients who received a statin had a 13% reduced risk of dementia compared with patients who did not receive a statin (relative risk, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.81-0.93; P