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Statins and pancreatic cancer risk: a nested case–control study

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Abstract

Objective

To investigate the relationship between statin use and pancreatic cancer risk.

Methods

A nested case–control study was conducted within the UK GPRD. Cases had a diagnosis of primary malignant neoplasia of the exocrine pancreas. Controls were matched with cases on general practice site, sex and year of birth. Exposure of interest was exposure to statins since entry into the GPRD until 1 year before the case diagnosis date. Conditional logistic regression analyses were used to generate ORs and 95% CI associated with statin use compared to non-use.

Results

A total of 1,141 pancreatic cancer cases and 7,954 controls were identified. Any use of a statin since entry into the GPRD (excluding the year prior to diagnosis) was not associated with the risk of pancreatic cancer OR 0.93 (95% CI, 0.76–1.14). Neither dose nor duration of statin use affected pancreatic cancer risk. When dose and duration of statin use combined were assessed, no evidence of reduced risk was seen for long-term users of high-dose statins OR 0.71 (0.42–1.20). Statin type (simvastatin vs atorvastatin) was not associated with pancreatic cancer risk.

Conclusion

Statin use at doses for managing hypercholesterolaemia, in a UK population, was not associated with the risk of exocrine pancreatic cancer.

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Acknowledgments

This study is based in part on data from the Full Feature General Practice Research Database obtained under licence from the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. However, the interpretation and conclusions contained in this study are those of the authors alone. Access to the GPRD database was funded through the Medical Research Council’s licence agreement with MHRA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical and Practice Research Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK

    Marie C. Bradley & Carmel M. Hughes

  2. Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research Group, Centre for Public Health, Queen’s University, Mulhouse Building, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, BT12 6BJ, Northern Ireland, UK

    Marie M. Cantwell & Liam J. Murray

Authors
  1. Marie C. Bradley
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  2. Carmel M. Hughes
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  3. Marie M. Cantwell
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Correspondence to Marie C. Bradley.

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Bradley, M.C., Hughes, C.M., Cantwell, M.M. et al. Statins and pancreatic cancer risk: a nested case–control study. Cancer Causes Control 21, 2093–2100 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-010-9628-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-010-9628-0

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