TLDR Starting 5-alpha reductase inhibitors does not significantly increase the risk of rhabdomyolysis in older men, but is linked to a higher risk of muscle conditions.
In a study of 93,197 men aged 66 years or older in Ontario, Canada, researchers found that the initiation of 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5ARIs) was not significantly associated with an increased risk of rhabdomyolysis, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.21 and a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.00-1.48. However, the study did reveal that men had an elevated risk of rhabdomyolysis before starting 5ARI medication (HR 1.31, 95% CI, 1.05-1.64). Additionally, the use of 5ARIs was significantly associated with a higher risk of myositis and myopathy (HR 1.63, 95% CI, 1.48-1.80). The study was limited by its inability to confirm rhabdomyolysis through laboratory tests and did not include younger men using 5ARIs for androgenic alopecia. The research was ethically approved and supported by grants, including one from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, with no conflicts of interest reported by the authors.
Cited in this study
5 / 5 results
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