Results from a recent trial suggest that statins may reduce the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and high cholesterol levels.The study was led by Dr. Dong Hyun Sinn and Dr. Danbee Kang and was published in BMC cancer.
Previously, no researchers had conducted randomized controlled trials to analyze the ability of statins to reduce the risk of liver cancer in patients with chronic hepatitis B.
The researchers conducted a simulation experiment study using the K-NHIS database, which represents the entire Korean population. The study analyzed data from 2,915 patients aged 40 to 84 years with chronic CHB and cholesterol levels of 200 mg/dL or higher who started statin therapy within the past 6 months. The researchers also reviewed data from 8,525 patients with chronic hepatitis B who were not receiving statin therapy and had cholesterol levels above 200 mg/dL.
Data were evaluated for HCC development, liver cancer or liver-related mortality, and all-cause mortality.
Of the 11,440 patients observed, 207 developed HCC. In the cohort of patients taking statins, the incidence of HCC was 0.2 cases per 1000 person-years. The incidence rate of HCC in the nonstatin group was 0.3 cases per 1000 person-years.
In the nonstatin cohort, the fully adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for developing HCC was 0.56 (95% CI, 0.39-0.80). The fully adjusted HR assessing the difference in liver cancer or liver-related mortality between the statin and nonstatin groups was 0.59 (95% CI, 0.35-0.99). The fully adjusted HR for all-cause mortality was 0.93 (95% CI, 0.78-1.11).
The researchers noted that statin use was associated with a lower risk of HCC in all subgroups evaluated.
“In summary, this study suggests that statins may help prevent liver cancer in patients with chronic hepatitis B who have elevated cholesterol levels,” the researchers wrote.
They also recommend that physicians prescribe statins for patients with chronic hepatitis B and dyslipidemia.