Statin use and decreased risk of benign prostatic enlargement and lower urinary tract symptoms

To determine whether statin use is associated with a decreased risk of developing benign prostatic enlargement (BPE) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

We conducted a retrospective, population-based cohort study of 2447 men, 40-79 years of age, residing in Olmsted County, MN, USA, in 1990, and followed these men biennially through 2007. Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess associations between statin use and new onset of moderate/severe LUTS (American Urological Association Symptom Index score >7), a decreased maximum urinary flow rate (<12 mL/s) or BPE (prostate volume >30 mL).

Statin use was inversely associated with new onset of LUTS (Hazard ratio (HR) 0.39; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.31-0.49), a decreased maximum flow rate (HR 0.53; 95% CI 0.34-0.82) and BPE (HR 0.40; 95% CI 0.23-0.69) after adjustment for baseline age and body mass index, diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, smoking, alcohol use, activity level and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory use. The longest duration of statin use was associated with the lowest risk of developing each outcome (all tests for trend: P < 0.001).

In this study, statin use was associated with a 6.5- to 7-year delay in the new onset of moderate/severe LUTS or BPE. While men typically take statin medications to prevent coronary heart disease events and related outcomes, these data suggest that men who use statins may also receive urologic benefits.