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Statin use reduced prostate cancer, all-cause mortality
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All patients with newly diagnosed nonmetastatic prostate cancer who used statins after diagnosis demonstrated a significantly reduced risk for prostate cancer mortality, although the effect was stronger in patients who initiated statin use prior to their diagnosis, according to study results.
Researchers used a large population-based electronic database in the United Kingdom to evaluate data on 11,772 men diagnosed with nonmetastatic prostate cancer between April 1, 1998, and Dec. 31, 2009.
During median follow-up of 4.4 years, 3,499 deaths occurred. Researchers attributed 1,791 of the deaths to prostate cancer.
Results showed all patients who used statins after diagnosis demonstrated a 24% reduced risk for prostate cancer mortality (HR=0.76; 95% CI, 0.66-0.88) and a 14% reduced risk for all-cause mortality (HR=0.86; 95% CI, 0.78-0.95).
Researchers observed even greater protection against prostate cancer mortality (HR=0.55; 95% CI, 0.41-0.74) and all-cause mortality (HR=0.66; 95% CI, 0.53-0.81) among patients who used statins prior to diagnosis.
The benefits were less pronounced among those who only used statins after diagnosis (HR for prostate cancer mortality=0.82; 95% CI, 0.71-0.96; HR for all-cause mortality=0.91; 95% CI, 0.82-1.01).
“Although the results of this study provide evidence that the use of statins may be associated with a decreased risk of prostate cancer mortality, additional well-conducted observational studies are needed to confirm these findings before launching randomized controlled trials assessing the effects of statins in the adjuvant setting,” the researchers wrote.
Disclosure: The researchers report consultant or advisory roles with AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Merck, Novartis and Pfizer.
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