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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.

Last updated: Aug 31, 2026•0 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score34/100
Human RCT☆☆☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Lipid-lowering agent use and changes to sleep.

observational

Belghiti M, Virk M, Costa YS, Berger S, Hoxha O, Jairam T, Rajendram P, Murray BJ, Boulos MI · Sleep medicine (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: N/A
Intervention: Use of lipid-lowering agents (specifically atorvastatin) versus no use
Outcome: Objective sleep measures from polysomnography: sleep efficiency, total sleep time, REM latency, sleep onset latency, wake time after sleep onset
Effect Size: β = -1.95 (95% CI -3.71 to -0.19)
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

Result:

PubMed: 42664635DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2026.109232

Mechanism Graph

Atorvastatin use is associated with a small but significant decrease in sleep efficiency.
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The effect is independent of age, sex, BMI, comorbidities, OSA severity, sleep habits, and other medications.
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Other lipid-lowering agents did not show significant effects, suggesting a class-specific effect.
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Result: Atorvastatin may negatively impact sleep quality, though the magnitude is small.

Limitations

  • ⚠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.

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References

  1. 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
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.