Statins but not fibrates are associated with a reduced risk of venous thromboembolism: a hospital-based case-control study.
Previous studies of selected patients have suggested a reduction in the risk of venous thromboembolism with the use of statins. The objective of this study is to evaluate the influence of statin use on the risk of venous thromboembolic (VTE) events. The study is a case-control study (EDITH: Etude des Déterminants et Interactions de la Thrombose Veineuse), designed to investigate the genetic and environmental risk factors of VTE. A total of 377 patients consecutively hospitalized in the Brest University Hospital for a documented VTE event, between May 2000 and May 2002, and 377 age- and sex-matched controls were studied. Statin use was associated with a 58% decreased risk of VTE [odds ratio (OR) 0.42; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.23-0.76; P = 0.002]. Adjustment for age, gender, coronary heart disease, atherosclerothrombotic disease or current use of aspirin did not alter the result. Neither fibrates (OR 1.38; 95% CI 0.76-2.52; P = 0.26), nor thienopyridines (OR 1.07; 95% CI 0.48-2.41; P = 0.85) were associated with a reduced risk of VTE. Aspirin use tended to decrease the risk of VTE, but this result was not significant (OR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.42-1.05). The use of statins is associated with a significant reduction in the risk of VTE, irrespective of age, gender, and past history of atherosclerothrombotic disease, as well as the use of aspirin. This possible protective effect of statins warrants further investigations.
Groupe d'Etude de la Thrombose de Bretagne Occidentale (GETBO), Department of Internal Medicine and Chest Diseases, Hôpital de la Cavale Blanche, 29609 Brest Cedex, France.
Karine
K
Lacut
Emmanuel
E
Oger
Grégoire
G
Le Gal
Francis
F
Couturaud
Stéphanie
S
Louis
Christophe
C
Leroyer
Dominique
D
Mottier
D000368:Aged; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002995:Clofibric Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D012306:Risk; D014463:Ultrasonography; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000517:prevention & control*
D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D002995:Clofibric Acid; D001241:Aspirin