Atorvastatin use is associated with decreased sleep efficiency in patients undergoing polysomnography
In a cross-sectional retrospective study of 3754 patients who underwent in-laboratory polysomnography, use of atorvastatin was significantly associated with decreased sleep efficiency (β = -1.95; 95% CI = -3.71 to -0.19; p = 0.030) after adjusting for confounders. Other lipid-lowering agents did not significantly impact sleep measures.
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Atorvastatin use is associated with decreased sleep efficiency in patients undergoing polysomnography The current body of evidence comprises 1 study. EvidenceHub rates the overall confidence at 34/100 (low).
The Claim
Atorvastatin use is associated with decreased sleep efficiency in patients undergoing polysomnography
This conclusion is most relevant to: 3754 patients (mean age 54.7 ± 16.4 years; 47.5% male; mean BMI 29.0 ± 6.64 kg/m²) who underwent diagnostic in-laboratory polysomnography at an academic tertiary care sleep center.
What the Research Shows
The conclusion draws on 1 linked study. Highlights from the cited literature:
- ▸Lipid-lowering agent use and changes to sleep. (Sleep medicine, 2026) —
How It Works
The proposed biological pathway:
- ▸Atorvastatin use is associated with a small but significant decrease in sleep efficiency.
- ▸The effect is independent of age, sex, BMI, comorbidities, OSA severity, sleep habits, and other medications.
- ▸Other lipid-lowering agents did not show significant effects, suggesting a class-specific effect.
- ▸Result: Atorvastatin may negatively impact sleep quality, though the magnitude is small.
Who Might Benefit
Evidence fit by population:
- ▸3754 patients (mean age 54.7 ± 16.4 years; 47.5% male; mean BMI 29.0 ± 6.64 kg/m²) who underwent diagnostic in-laboratory polysomnography at an academic tertiary care sleep center
Recommended Dose
N/A
Limitations & Caveats
Important context when interpreting this evidence:
- ▸Cross-sectional design cannot establish causality.
- ▸Self-reported medication use and comorbidities may introduce recall bias.
- ▸Single-center study may limit generalizability.
- ▸Residual confounding from unmeasured variables cannot be excluded.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does atorvastatin affect sleep quality?▼
Yes, this study found that atorvastatin use was associated with a small but significant decrease in sleep efficiency (β = -1.95, p = 0.030).
Which lipid-lowering agents were studied?▼
The study included atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, cholesterol absorption inhibitors, simvastatin, pravastatin, fibrates, and bile acid sequestrants. Only atorvastatin showed a significant effect on sleep.
How was sleep measured in this study?▼
Sleep was measured objectively using in-laboratory polysomnography, including sleep efficiency, total sleep time, REM latency, sleep onset latency, and wake time after sleep onset.
Should patients stop taking atorvastatin if they have sleep problems?▼
No, patients should not stop without consulting their doctor. The effect is small, and clinicians should be aware and counsel patients accordingly, but the benefits of lipid-lowering likely outweigh the small sleep impact.
References
- 1.Belghiti M, Virk M, Costa YS, Berger S, Hoxha O, Jairam T, Rajendram P, Murray BJ, Boulos MI. “Lipid-lowering agent use and changes to sleep..” Sleep medicine, 2026. PMID: 42664635 DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2026.109232