Abstract
The study objective was to investigate a possible association between statin use and
breast cancer (BRCA). An historical cohort design based on Saskatchewan's population
health services databases was used. All eligible women with ⩾1 statin prescription
from 1989 to mid-1997 and an age–sex-matched nonexposed group were followed up to
8.5 years (mean 4.2 years). Relative rates (RR) of BRCA were estimated and stratified
by age, statin exposure time, and prior hormone use. Thirteen thousand five hundred
ninety-two statin users and 53,880 nonexposed subjects were identified. Eight hundred
seventy-nine incident BRCA cases were identified. Statins were not associated with
BRCA risk in women ⩽55 years. Among subjects >55 years, the RR for BRCA was 1.15 (0.97,
1.37). Stratified analyses revealed increases in risk in short-term statin users and
statin users with long-term hormone replacement therapy (HRT) exposure. More studies
are needed to determine if short-term statin use and statin use with long-term HRT
exposure increases postmenopausal BRCA risk. Published by Elsevier Science Inc.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
October 11,
2002
Received in revised form:
June 18,
2002
Received:
December 10,
2001
Footnotes
☆Disclaimer: This project was funded under FDA Grant FD-U-000976. The interpretation and conclusions are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the Government of Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Department of Health or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Identification
Copyright
© 2003 Elsevier Science Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
