Long-term Use of Statins and Risk of Renal Cell Carcinoma : A Population-based Case–Control Study
Menée auprès de 4 606 patients atteints d'un carcinome à cellules rénales et auprès de 46 060 témoins, cette étude évalue l'association entre l'utilisation de statines et le risque de développer la maladie
Background : Use of statins has been suggested to protect against renal cell carcinoma (RCC); however, studies have typically been underpowered, and the results are conflicting. Objective : To determine whether the use of statins is associated with a reduced risk of RCC using high-quality registry data. Design, setting, and participants : We conducted a nationwide case–control study based on all histologically verified cases of RCC in Denmark between 2002 and 2012 (n = 4606) matched 1:10 to cancer-free controls. Data on drug use, comorbidity, and educational level were obtained from Danish nationwide prescription, patient, and demographic registries. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis : Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for RCC associated with long-term use (≥5 yr) of statins were estimated using conditional logistic regression, adjusting for potential confounders. Results and limitations : The adjusted OR for RCC associated with long-term use of statins was 1.06 (95% CI, 0.91–1.23). Analyses stratified by duration of statin use, type of statin, and patient characteristics all yielded ORs close to unity, except for a slightly increased OR for RCC associated with long-term statin use among women (OR: 1.25; 95% CI, 0.96–1.62). The main limitation of our study was lack of information on lifestyle factors, notably obesity, which may have biased the risk estimates upward. Conclusions : Our study does not support an important chemopreventive effect of long-term statin use against RCC. The marginally increased and statistically insignificant risk estimates can readily be interpreted as a null finding, considering the lack of control for obesity and other lifestyle risk factors. Patient summary : Previous studies have shown that the use of cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins) may protect against renal cancer. In a large study including all Danish renal cancers during an 11-yr period, we found no evidence of such an effect.