The association of statin use with reduced incidence of venous thromboembolism: a population-based cohort study.
OBJECTIVE
Venous thromboembolism (VTE) continues to be a frequent medical emergency requiring rapid recognition so as to reach diagnosis and initiate anticoagulation therapy. The use of statins in addition to reducing the incidence of arterial thrombosis for decreasing the incidence and reoccurrence of VTE is reported. The aim of our study was to explore the association between statin usage and the incidence of new VTE at the population level during a 10-year follow-up.


METHODS
Population-based historic cohort.


METHODS
The Health 2000 Survey was based on a nationally representative sample.


METHODS
8028 individuals aged 30 years or over in Finland.


METHODS
The primary end point event was the first ever hospitalisation due to one of the following causes: pulmonary embolism (International Classification of Diseases-10 I26), cerebral venous non-pyogenic thrombosis (I63.6), or venous thrombosis (I80.9-189).


RESULTS
The preselected explanatory variables applied to the Poisson regression model were statin usage (no/yes) during follow-up (2000-2011) and several baseline data (age, sex; usage of blood glucose lowering drugs, vitamin K antagonists and antiplatelet agents). We observed 136 VTE events, the incidence of 1.72 (95% CI 1.44 to 2.04) per 1000 person-years. Current statin usage did not associate with the incidence of VTE according to the univariate model (rate ratio (RR) 0.93, 0.56 to 1.52), but when adjusted with baseline variables (age, sex, medications) the RR declined to 0.60 (0.36 to 1.00, p=0.04).


CONCLUSIONS
Statin use offers protection against first ever VTE events and appears as a primary prevention tool in patients without anticoagulation or antiplatelet medication.
University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Central Hospital; Cancer Center, HUSLAB and Clinical Chemistry, Helsinki, Finland.
Riitta
R
Lassila
The National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland.
Antti
A
Jula
Hjelt Institute, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Janne
J
Pitkäniemi
Hjelt Institute, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Jari
J
Haukka
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*
D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
EPIDEMIOLOGY