A recent study suggests that statin use may reduce the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and hepatic decompensation in patients with chronic liver disease. The research, published on March 17 in JAMA Internal Medicine, provides new insights into the potential protective effects of statins for individuals suffering from liver conditions.
The study, led by Jonggi Choi, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Ulsan College of Medicine in Seoul, South Korea, analyzed data from the Research Patient Data Registry spanning from 2000 to 2023. It focused on individuals aged 40 and older who had chronic liver disease and a baseline Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score of 1.3 or higher. The goal was to assess the impact of statin use on the incidence of HCC and hepatic decompensation.
The analysis included 16,501 participants, with 3,610 using statins and 12,891 not using them. The results showed that statin users had a significantly lower 10-year cumulative incidence of both HCC (3.8% vs. 8.0%) and hepatic decompensation (10.6% vs. 19.5%) compared to nonusers. After adjusting for confounding factors, the subhazard ratios were 0.67 for HCC and 0.78 for hepatic decompensation, indicating a reduced risk in statin users.
Notably, the study found further reductions in the risks of HCC and hepatic decompensation among those using lipophilic statins and those with longer durations of statin use (≥600 cumulative defined daily doses). Additionally, among 7,038 patients with serial FIB-4 data, statin users showed a lower transition rate to high-risk categories. Specifically, 14.7% of statin users with intermediate baseline FIB-4 scores progressed to a high-risk group, compared to 20.0% of nonusers. For those with high baseline FIB-4 scores, 31.8% of statin users transitioned to an intermediate-risk group, and 7.0% moved to a low-risk group, compared to 18.8% and 4.3% of nonusers, respectively.
The authors concluded that statins may play a significant role in preventing the progression of fibrosis and could be considered as chemopreventive agents against HCC. The findings highlight the potential benefits of statins in managing liver disease beyond their traditional cardiovascular uses.
One author of the study disclosed financial ties to Gilead Sciences Research.
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