Cited by 181Pancreatitis Pathology and TreatmentLipoproteins and Cardiovascular HealthCancer, Lipids, and Metabolism

Lipid-Modifying Therapies and Risk of Pancreatitis: A Meta-analysis

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Preiss, David, Tikkanen, Matti J., Welsh, Paul, Ford, Ian, Lovato, Laura C., Elam, Marshall B., LaRosa, John C., DeMicco, David A. +10 more·2012·JAMA

Abstract

CONTEXT: Statin therapy has been associated with pancreatitis in observational studies. Although lipid guidelines recommend fibrate therapy to reduce pancreatitis risk in persons with hypertriglyceridemia, fibrates may lead to the development of gallstones, a risk factor for pancreatitis. OBJECTIVE: To investigate associations between statin or fibrate therapy and incident pancreatitis in large randomized trials. DATA SOURCES: Relevant trials were identified in literature searches of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science (January 1, 1994, for statin trials and January 1, 1972, for fibrate trials, through June 9, 2012). Published pancreatitis data were tabulated where available (6 trials). Unpublished data were obtained from investigators (22 trials). STUDY SELECTION: We included randomized controlled cardiovascular end-point trials investigating effects of statin therapy or fibrate therapy. Studies with more than 1000 participants followed up for more than 1 year were included. DATA EXTRACTION: Trial-specific data described numbers of participants developing pancreatitis and change in triglyceride levels at 1 year. Trial-specific risk ratios (RRs) were calculated and combined using random-effects model meta-analysis. Between-study heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic. RESULTS: In 16 placebo- and standard care-controlled statin trials with 113,800 participants conducted over a weighted mean follow-up of 4.1 (SD, 1.5) years, 309 participants developed pancreatitis (134 assigned to statin, 175 assigned to control) (RR, 0.77 [95% CI, 0.62-0.97; P = .03; I2 = 0%]). In 5 dose-comparison statin trials with 39,614 participants conducted over 4.8 (SD, 1.7) years, 156 participants developed pancreatitis (70 assigned to intensive dose, 86 assigned to moderate dose) (RR, 0.82 [95% CI, 0.59-1.12; P = .21; I2 = 0%]). Combined results for all 21 statin trials provided RR 0.79 (95% CI, 0.65-0.95; P = .01; I2 = 0%). In 7 fibrate trials with 40,162 participants conducted over 5.3 (SD, 0.5) years, 144 participants developed pancreatitis (84 assigned to fibrate therapy, 60 assigned to placebo) (RR, 1.39 [95% CI, 1.00-1.95; P = .053; I2 = 0%]). CONCLUSION: In a pooled analysis of randomized trial data, use of statin therapy was associated with a lower risk of pancreatitis in patients with normal or mildly elevated triglyceride levels.

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  1. Van Woerkom RC, Adler DG. Report of simultaneous acute pancreatitis and acute hepatitis in a patient taking ezetimibe/simvastatin. J Clin Lipidol 2010; 4(4):314-315.

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Authors
Preiss, D., Tikkanen, M. J., Welsh, P., Ford, I., Lovato, L. C., Elam, M. B., LaRosa, J. C., DeMicco, D. A., Colhoun, H. M., Goldenberg, I., Murphy, M. J., MacDonald, T. M., Pedersen, T. R., Keech, A. C., Ridker, P. M., Kjekshus, J., Sattar, N., & McMurray, J. J. V.
Affiliations
  • University of Glasgow (GB)
  • University of Helsinki (FI)
  • Wake Forest University Health Sciences (US)
  • Memphis VA Medical Center (US)
  • SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University (US)
  • Pfizer (United States) (US)
  • University of Dundee (GB)
  • Sheba Medical Center (IL)
  • Oslo University Hospital (NO)
  • The University of Sydney (AU)
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital (US)
Corresponding author
Preiss, David
Venue
JAMA
Published
2012-08-22
Volume
308
Issue
8
Pages
804
ISSN
  • 0002-9955 (ISSN-L)
  • 0098-7484
OpenAlex
W2125871101
Cited by
181
References
70
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 5
FWCI
3.09
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • JAMA (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • ENLIGHTEN (Jurnal Bimbingan dan Konseling Islam) (acceptedVersion)
  • Research Bank (Australian Catholic University) (submittedVersion)
  • Discovery Research Portal (University of Dundee) (submittedVersion)
Funders
British Heart Foundation (FS/10/005/28147)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Pancreatitis Pathology and Treatment
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Lipoproteins and Cardiovascular Health
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cancer Research › Cancer, Lipids, and Metabolism
Keywords
pancreatitis, statin therapy, fibrate therapy, lipid therapy, hypertriglyceridemia, gallstones, triglyceride levels, randomized controlled trials, drug safety, dose comparison, drug-induced pancreatitis
MeSH terms
Humans, Hyperlipidemias, Pancreatitis, Risk, Triglycerides, Hypertriglyceridemia, Incidence, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors, Gallstones, Fibric Acids

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