title: Statin associated hepatic adverse effects: a retrospective review from a regional hospital in sultanate of oman.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed at evaluating the prevalence, pattern and predisposing factors for hepatic adverse effects with statins in a regional hospital in Sultanate of Oman.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of the patient files in Department of Medicine during the year 2011 was done to evaluate any hepatic dysfunction possibly related to statins among the patients. For each case of suspected statin induced hepatic effect, additional details on temporal relationship, pattern of presentation, management, final outcome and any contributing factors were obtained. Difference in the occurrence of hepatic effects based on the patient demographics and drug characteristics was additionally evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 927 patients meeting the inclusion criteria were included for the study. Mean age of the evaluated patients was 63.1 ± 11.37 and median duration of use of statin in months was 22 (IQR, 43.25). In 40 (4%) of the 927 patients, there was presence of a hepatic effect considered to be statin related and only in 12 (1%) patients a significant transaminase rise (>3 times) was observed. Median duration of use of statin among those patients who developed suspected statin induced hepatic effects and those who did not was 45 (IQR,52) and 21 (IQR, 43) months, respectively and the difference observed was statistically significant. A significant difference in the prevalence of hepatic effects was observed only based on the duration of statin use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was an infrequent occurrence of significant hepatic effects associated with statins in the study population. Our results support the latest recommendations including from United States Federal Drug Administration (US FDA) that statins appear to be associated with a very low risk of serious liver injury and that routine periodic monitoring of transaminases does not appear to detect or prevent serious liver injury in association with statins.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Dean (Research) and Associate Professor, School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy and Nursing, University of Nizwa,P.B No 33, PO 616, Birkat Al Mouz, Nizwa, Sultanate of Oman.
authors.forename: Jimmy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jose
authors.affiliation: Senior Consultant, Physician & Rheumatologist, Department of Medicine, Nizwa Hospital, Ministry of Health, Sultanate of Oman.
authors.forename: Faisal Abdullah Ali
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Al-Tamimi
authors.affiliation: Senior Specialist, Department of Medicine, Nizwa Hospital, Ministry of Health, Sultanate of Oman, and Associate Professor, General Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Manal Mahmoud
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Helal
authors.affiliation: Lecturer, School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy and Nursing, University of Nizwa, Nizwa, Sultanate of Oman.
authors.forename: Beena
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jimmy
authors.affiliation: Assistant Dean (Training) School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy and Nursing, University of Nizwa, Nizwa, Sultanate of Oman.
authors.forename: Qasim
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Al Riyami
keywords: Sultanate of Oman; hepatic effects; retrospective review; statins