Statin use and the risk of breast cancer: a population-based case-control study

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the use of statins was associated with breast cancer risk.

Experimental studies have shown that statins have potential protective effects against cancer.

We conducted a population-based case-control study in Taiwan. Cases consisted of all patients who were aged 50 years and older and had a first-time diagnosis of breast cancer for the period between 2004 and 2011. The controls were matched to cases by age, sex and index date. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs were estimated by using multiple logistic regression.

We examined 565 breast cancer cases and 2260 controls. The unadjusted OR for any statin prescription was 1.19 (95% CI = 0.95 - 1.49) and the adjusted OR was 1.13 (95% CI = 0.84 - 1.51). Compared with no use of statins, the adjusted ORs were 1.02 (95% CI = 0.61 - 1.69) for the group with cumulative defined daily doses (DDDs) below 44.67 DDDs, 1.21 (95% CI = 0.83 - 1.76) for the group with cumulative dose between 44.68 DDDs and 308 DDDs, and 1.10 (95% CI = 0.66 - 1.83) for the group with the highest cumulative dose (> 308 DDDs).

The present data do not provide evidence to support either beneficial or harmful associations between statin use and breast cancer risk.