Statins decrease the occurrence of venous thromboembolism in patients with cancer.
BACKGROUND
Recent data suggest a reduction in the occurrence of venous thromboembolism in select groups of patients who use statins. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of statin use on the occurrence of venous thromboembolism in patients with solid organ tumor.


METHODS
We conducted a retrospective, case-control study reviewing 740 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of solid organ tumor who were admitted to the Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, Penn, between October 2004 and September 2007. Patients treated with anticoagulation therapy before their first admission were excluded. The occurrence of venous thromboembolism, risk factors for venous thromboembolism, and statin use were recorded. Patients who never used statins or had used them for less than 2 months were relegated to the control group.


RESULTS
The mean age of the study population was 65 years, and 52% of the patients were women and 76% were African American. The occurrence of venous thromboembolism was 18% (N=132), and 26% (N=194) were receiving statins. Among patients receiving statins, 8% (N=16) developed a venous thromboembolism compared with 21% (N=116) in the control group (odds ratio 0.33; 95% confidence interval, 0.19-0.57). A logistic regression analysis including risk factors for venous thromboembolism (metastatic disease, use of chemotherapy, immobilization, smoking, and aspirin use) along with statin use yielded the same results.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that the use of statins is associated with a significant reduction in the occurrence of venous thromboembolism. This pleiotropic effect warrants further investigation.
Khemasuwan
Danai
D
Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA19141, USA. danai_md@hotmail.com
Divietro
Matthew L
ML
Tangdhanakanond
Kawin
K
Pomerantz
Sherry C
SC
Eiger
Glenn
G
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011336:Probability; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors