Statins Linked to Lower Risk for Cancer-Related Mortality
Patients who use statins regularly before receiving a cancer diagnosis have a decreased risk for dying from cancer, according to an observational study in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Using Danish national registries, researchers identified nearly 300,000 adults aged 40 and older who were diagnosed with cancer between 1995 and 2007. Of these, 6% were regular statin users before diagnosis.
During a median 2.6 years' follow-up, cancer-related mortality was reduced by 15% among statin users versus nonusers, with reductions observed for 13 types of cancer. All-cause mortality was similarly reduced among statin users.
An editorialist points out numerous study limitations that "mandate caution in interpreting the findings" — for example, patients' smoking status was not available. Meanwhile, Allan S. Brett ofJournal Watch General Medicine commented: "At the least, one might argue that patients who are already taking statins (and tolerating them) at the time of cancer diagnosis should continue taking them."
NEJM article (Free abstract)
NEJM editorial (Subscription required)
Background: Journal Watch Gastroenterology summary on statins and reduced liver cancer risk
