title: Cancer risk among statin users: a population-based cohort study.
abstract: Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) have been linked with potential chemopreventive effects; however, the data are conflicting. We conducted a population-based cohort study using data from the Prescription Database of North Jutland County and the Danish Cancer Registry for the period 1989-2002. In a study population of 334,754 county residents, we compared overall and site-specific cancer incidence among 12,251 statin users (> or =2 prescriptions) with cancer incidence among nonusers and users of other lipid-lowering drugs (n = 1,257). Statistical analyses were based on age-standardization and Poisson regression analysis, adjusting for age, gender, calendar period and use of NSAIDs, hormone replacement therapy and cardiovascular drugs. We identified 398 cancer cases among statin users during a mean follow-up period of 3.3 years (range 0-14 years). The age- and gender-standardized incidence rates of cancer overall were 596 per 100,000 person-years among statin users, 645 per 100,000 person-years among nonusers and 795 per 100,000 person-years among users of other lipid-lowering drugs. Adjusted rate ratios for cancer overall among statin users were 0.86 (95% CI, 0.78-0.95) compared to nonusers and 0.73 (95% CI, 0.55-0.98) compared to users of other lipid-lowering drugs. No significantly increased or decreased rate ratios were observed for any of the studied site-specific cancers (liver, colorectum, lung, breast, prostate, female genital organs and lymphatic and haematopoietic tissue), but most estimates tended to be less than 1.0. Stratification by duration of follow-up or number of prescriptions revealed no clear trends. In summary, individuals prescribed statins experienced a slightly reduced cancer incidence compared to population controls of nonusers and users of other lipid-lowering drugs. Larger and longer-term studies are needed to determine the potentially protective effect of statin use on cancer development.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cancer Epidemiology, Danish Cancer Society, Copenhagen, Denmark. friis@cancer.dk
authors.forename: Søren
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Friis
authors.forename: Aslak H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Poulsen
authors.forename: Søren P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Johnsen
authors.forename: Joseph K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: McLaughlin
authors.forename: Jon P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Fryzek
authors.forename: Susanne O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Dalton
authors.forename: Henrik T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Sørensen
authors.forename: Jørgen H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Olsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors