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Basic Research

Statin use and incident prostate cancer risk: does the statin brand matter? A population-based cohort study

Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases volume 17, pages 6–9 (2014)Cite this article

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Abstract

Background:

Statins have known anticarcinogenic effects; evidence for long-term statin use as effective chemoprevention for prostate cancer is inconsistent.

Methods:

We conducted a population-based cohort study to examine the association between statin use and risk of prostate cancer using the Database of Clalit Health Services. A total of 66 741 eligible participants were identified at 1 January 2001 and followed through to 31 December 2009. Cox proportional hazard models were used to compute hazard ratios (HRs) of incident prostate cancer associated with statin therapy controling for patients’ clinical and sociodemographic characteristics.

Results:

A total of 1813 cases of prostate cancer were diagnosed. Statin use was associated with a decreased incidence of prostate cancer, the association was stronger with increasing total dose, hydrophobic statins use and longer periods of treatment. When comparing statin use of over 6 months, this association was strongest for simvastatin (HR 0.51, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.47–0.56), atorvostatin (HR 0.48, 95% CI 0.33–0.68) and rosuvastatin (HR 0.22, 95% CI 0.08–0.75).

Conclusions:

Our findings suggest that prolonged statin use is associated with a reduced risk of prostate cancer; however, this was not true for all types of statin.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Family Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

    A Lustman, S Nakar & S Vinker

  2. Department of Family Medicine, Central District Clalit Health Services, Rishon Le Zion, Israel

    A Lustman & S Nakar

  3. Chief Physician Office, Clalit Health Services Headquarters, Tel Aviv, Israel

    A D Cohen & S Vinker

  4. Siaal Research Center for Family Medicine and Primary Care, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel

    A D Cohen

Authors
  1. A Lustman
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  2. S Nakar
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  4. S Vinker
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Correspondence to A D Cohen.

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Lustman, A., Nakar, S., Cohen, A. et al. Statin use and incident prostate cancer risk: does the statin brand matter? A population-based cohort study. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 17, 6–9 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/pcan.2013.34

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/pcan.2013.34

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