Statin use is associated with a reduced incidence of colorectal cancer: a colonoscopy-controlled case-control study Full Text
BMC Gastroenterology, 05/03/2012  Clinical Article

Broughton T et al. – Statins use was associated with a protective effect against the development of CRC. This effect is associated with a significant dose and duration response. These findings need to be repeated in other observational studies before an interventional study can be considered.

• This was a case-control study examining statin use in symptomatic patients attending for diagnostic colonoscopy.
• Statin use was compared between patients with CRC and a control group, who had all had normal colonoscopy.
• Structured interviews and clinical records notes were used to determine drug exposure.
• Logistic regression was used to compare statin exposure and correct for confounding factors.

• There was a significant inverse association between previous statin use and a diagnosis of CRC (OR=0.43 (95% confidence interval 0.25-0.80), p<0.01).
• This inverse association was stronger with higher statin doses (OR = 0.19 (0.07-0.47), p<0.01) and greater duration of statin use (statin use >5 years: OR = 0.18 (0.06-0.55), p<0.01).