Statins and pancreatic cancer risk: a nested case-control study.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship between statin use and pancreatic cancer risk.


METHODS
A nested case-control study was conducted within the UK GPRD. Cases had a diagnosis of primary malignant neoplasia of the exocrine pancreas. Controls were matched with cases on general practice site, sex and year of birth. Exposure of interest was exposure to statins since entry into the GPRD until 1 year before the case diagnosis date. Conditional logistic regression analyses were used to generate ORs and 95% CI associated with statin use compared to non-use.


RESULTS
A total of 1,141 pancreatic cancer cases and 7,954 controls were identified. Any use of a statin since entry into the GPRD (excluding the year prior to diagnosis) was not associated with the risk of pancreatic cancer OR 0.93 (95% CI, 0.76-1.14). Neither dose nor duration of statin use affected pancreatic cancer risk. When dose and duration of statin use combined were assessed, no evidence of reduced risk was seen for long-term users of high-dose statins OR 0.71 (0.42-1.20). Statin type (simvastatin vs atorvastatin) was not associated with pancreatic cancer risk.


CONCLUSIONS
Statin use at doses for managing hypercholesterolaemia, in a UK population, was not associated with the risk of exocrine pancreatic cancer.
Bradley
Marie C
MC
Clinical and Practice Research Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK. marie.bradley@qub.ac.uk
Hughes
Carmel M
CM
Cantwell
Marie M
MM
Murray
Liam J
LJ
D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors
D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors