Evidence mapPaperPMID 40332452Full record

Observational studyGeroScience2026

The association between statins and gait speed reserve in older adults: effects of concomitant medication.

Anton De Spiegeleer, Antoon Bronselaer, Ine Mahieu, Dorien Vreys, Aaron Haslbauer, Jan-Philipp Leibfarth, Lara Van Schoote, Aster Wakjira, Mirko Petrovic, Evelien Wynendaele and 4 more

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in GeroScience, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Anton De SpiegeleerTranslational Research in Immunosenescence, Gerontology and Geriatrics (TRIGG) Group, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Antoon BronselaerDepartment of Telecommunications & Information Processing, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Ine MahieuTranslational Research in Immunosenescence, Gerontology and Geriatrics (TRIGG) Group, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Dorien VreysTranslational Research in Immunosenescence, Gerontology and Geriatrics (TRIGG) Group, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Aaron HaslbauerUniversity Department of Geriatric Medicine FELIX PLATTER, Basel, Switzerland.
Jan-Philipp LeibfarthDepartment of Telecommunications & Information Processing, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Lara Van SchooteTranslational Research in Immunosenescence, Gerontology and Geriatrics (TRIGG) Group, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Aster WakjiraTranslational Research in Immunosenescence, Gerontology and Geriatrics (TRIGG) Group, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Mirko PetrovicDepartment of Geriatrics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
Evelien WynendaeleTranslational Research in Immunosenescence, Gerontology and Geriatrics (TRIGG) Group, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Bart De SpiegeleerTranslational Research in Immunosenescence, Gerontology and Geriatrics (TRIGG) Group, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Nele Van Den NoortgateTranslational Research in Immunosenescence, Gerontology and Geriatrics (TRIGG) Group, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Reto W KressigUniversity Department of Geriatric Medicine FELIX PLATTER, Basel, Switzerland.
Roland RösslerUniversity Department of Geriatric Medicine FELIX PLATTER, Basel, Switzerland. roland.roessler@felixplatter.ch.ORCID 0000-0002-6763-0694

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Statins are frequently prescribed to older adults, yet their effects on ageing phenotypes such as frailty or physiological reserves remain poorly understood. Gait Speed Reserve (GSR), defined as the difference between maximal and usual gait speeds, serves as an indicator of physiological reserve, reflecting the body's ability to perform beyond baseline functional levels. Polypharmacy, prevalent in this population, may contribute to inconsistent findings through interactions between statins and concomitant medications. We aimed to investigate how concomitant medications moderate the association between statin use and GSR in older adults. To this end, we conducted a cross-sectional observational cohort study using data from the Mobility Center at the University Department of Geriatric Medicine FELIX PLATTER, Basel, Switzerland (n = 5519 adults aged ≥ 60 years). Moderation regression analyses with propensity score weighting were used to evaluate the effect of concomitant medications on the association between statin use and GSR. Results showed statin use was associated with a lower GSR compared to non-use (- 1.9 cm/s [95% CI, - 3.1 to - 0.72]). However, ACE inhibitors and aspirin significantly influenced this association. The GSR difference for statin users compared to non-users increased by 3.7 cm/s (from - 2.2 to 1.5 cm/s; 95% CI, 0.0 to 7.4) with concomitant ACE inhibitor use and by 5.8 cm/s (from - 3.4 to 2.3 cm/s; 95% CI, 2.5 to 9.1) with aspirin use. We found no statistically significant association between statin use and usual gait speed, the secondary outcome. In conclusion, ACE inhibitors and aspirin interacted with statins, reversing the negative association with GSR into a positive one when co-used. Future clinical trials are needed to determine causality and further investigate the impact of concomitant medication use on statin effects in aging populations. Meanwhile, our findings underscore the importance of considering concomitant medication use when assessing the effects of statins in older adults.

Indexed as

Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase InhibitorsWalking SpeedAgedAged, 80 and overAngiotensin-Converting Enzyme InhibitorsAspirinCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPolypharmacySwitzerlandAngiotensin-Converting Enzyme InhibitorsAspirinHydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase InhibitorsGaitGeriatric populationPhysiological reservePolypharmacyReal-world data (RWD)Statins

Identifiers

PMID40332452
PMCPMC12972418

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.