Statin use and risk of endometrial cancer: a nationwide registry-based case-control study

INTRODUCTION: Laboratory and epidemiological evidence have suggested that statin use may protect against the development of certain cancers, including endometrial cancer. In a nationwide registry-based case-control study, we examined the association between statin use and risk of endometrial cancer.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cases were female residents of Denmark with a primary diagnosis of endometrial cancer during 2000-2009. For each case, we selected 15 female population controls matched on date of birth (± 1 month) using risk-set sampling. 'Ever use' of statin was defined as ≥2 prescriptions on separate dates. Conditional logistic regressions were used to estimate age-matched (by design) and multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for endometrial cancer associated with statin use. The multivariable-adjusted models included parity, hormone replacement therapy, obesity, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and education. We evaluated whether the association between statin use and endometrial cancer varied by duration and intensity of statin use, type of endometrial cancer, or patient characteristics.

RESULTS: The study population comprised 5,382 endometrial cancer cases and 72,127 population controls. We observed no association between ever use of statins and endometrial cancer risk (OR 1.03, 95 % CI 0.94-1.14). In addition, endometrial cancer risk did not vary substantially with duration or intensity of statin use. Stratification by type of endometrial cancer also yielded neutral ORs.

CONCLUSIONS: In our nationwide case-control study, we found no association between statin use and risk of endometrial cancer. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.