Statin Use Is Associated With Disseminated Superficial Actinic Porokeratosis: A Population-Based Analysis

Statins are lipid-lowering drugs that block 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase to prevent atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. While statins are generally well tolerated, they have been linked to a variety of dermatological disorders. This study investigated the relationship between statin use and disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis (DSAP), a chronic hereditary skin condition marked by hyperkeratotic papules with characteristic ridge-like borders. Using the TriNetX database, we conducted a retrospective cohort study of 970,166 statin medication patients identified by RxNorm codes. DSAP cases were identified using diagnostic codes, and propensity score matching was used to balance demographic variables between the treatment and control groups. Among statin-treated patients, 660 (0.068%) cases of DSAP were found, compared with 478 (0.049%) cases in controls. Statin medication was linked to a significant increase in DSAP risk (RR, 1.381; 95% CI, 1.227-1.553; p=0.0001). This study finds a statistically significant correlation between statin use and DSAP, emphasizing the significance of monitoring for dermatologic side effects in statin-treated patients.