Table 1 HRsa for HCC incidence associated with statin use and total cholesterol (TC) in main cohort participants (n = 400,318)

From: Higher cholesterol levels, not statin use, are associated with a lower risk of hepatocellular carcinoma

   

Multivariable-adjusted (except TC)

Multivariable-adjusted (including TC) (main analysis)

Analysis when only those who initiated statins within 1 year after baseline were considered as users

TC or statin use characteristics

No. of participants

HCC cases

p-value

HR (95% CI)

p-value

HR (95% CI)

HCC cases

p-value

HR (95% CI)

1 mmol/L (39 mg/dL) increase in TCb

400,318

1686

  

<0.001

0.54 (0.51–0.58)

   

Statin use within 6 months after baselinec

No use

389,052

1657

 

1.00 (Reference)

 

1.00 (Reference)

   

Use

11,266

29

0.005

0.59 (0.41–0.85)

0.427

1.16 (0.80–1.69)

   

 ≤91 cDDDs

9350

24

0.007

0.57 (0.38–0.86)

0.597

1.12 (0.74–1.68)

   

 >91 cDDDs

1916

5

0.395

0.68 (0.28–1.64)

0.402

1.46 (0.60–3.52)

   

No use

389,052

1657

 

1.00 (Reference)

 

1.00 (Reference)

   

 <40 cDDDs (<50th percentile)

4812d

17

0.266

0.76 (0.47–1.23)

0.144

1.43 (0.88–2.32)

   

 ≥40 cDDDs (≥50th percentile)

6454d

12

0.006

0.45 (0.25–0.79)

0.769

0.92 (0.52–1.63)

   

Per 60 cDDD increase

400,318

1686

0.020

0.64 (0.44–0.93)

0.633

1.08 (0.78–1.49)

   

1 mmol/L (39 mg/dL) increase in TCe

400,318

1686

  

<0.001

0.55 (0.52–0.59)

1686

<0.001

0.55 (0.52–0.58)

Statin use within 2 years after baselinec

No use

366,896

1620

 

1.00 (Reference)

 

1.00 (Reference)

1642

 

1.00 (Reference)

Use

33,422

66

<0.001

0.44 (0.34–0.57)

0.004

0.69 (0.54–0.89)

44

0.669

0.94 (0.69–1.27)

 ≤182 cDDDs

25,288

51

<0.001

0.46 (0.34–0.60)

0.016

0.71 (0.53–0.94)

31

0.839

1.04 (0.72–1.49)

 183–365 cDDDs

5741

8

<0.001

0.30 (0.15–0.61)

0.042

0.48 (0.24–0.97)

7

0.195

0.61 (0.29–1.29)

 >365 cDDDs

2393

7

0.228

0.63 (0.30–1.33)

0.819

1.09 (0.52–2.30)

6

0.903

1.05 (0.47–2.35)

No use

366,896

1620

 

1.00 (Reference)

 

1.00 (Reference)

1642

 

1.00 (Reference)

 <30 cDDDs (1st quartile)

7850

23

0.042

0.65 (0.43–0.99)

0.954

0.99 (0.65–1.49)

14

0.205

1.41 (0.83–2.39)

 30–79 cDDDs (2nd quartile)

8626

12

<0.001

0.32 (0.18–0.57)

0.015

0.49 (0.28–0.87)

6

0.291

0.65 (0.29–1.45)

 80–179 cDDDs (3rd quartile)

8322

15

<0.001

0.40 (0.24–0.66)

0.092

0.64 (0.39–1.07)

10

0.947

0.98 (0.52–1.83)

 ≥180 cDDDs (4th quartile)

8558

16

<0.001

0.40 (0.25–0.66)

0.100

0.66 (0.40–1.08)

14

0.394

0.79 (0.47–1.35)

Per 60 cDDD increase

400,318

1686

<0.001

0.80 (0.73–0.88)

0.055

0.92 (0.84–1.00)

1686

0.403

0.96 (0.89–1.05)

No use

366,896

1620

 

1.00 (Reference)

 

1.00 (Reference)

   

 Statin initiation≤182 days after baseline

11,266

29

0.002

0.56 (0.39–0.81)

0.563

1.12 (0.77–1.62)

   

 Statin initiation 183–365 days after baseline

7085

15

0.002

0.45 (0.27–0.76)

0.125

0.67 (0.40–1.12)

   

 Statin initiation 366–730 days after baseline

15,071

22

<0.001

0.34 (0.22–0.52)

<0.001

0.47 (0.31–0.72)

   
  1. To convert cholesterol from mg/dL to mmol/L, multiply by 0.02586
  2. cDDDs cumulative DDDs; CI confidence interval; DDD defined daily dose; HCC hepatocellular carcinoma; HR hazard ratio
  3. aHRs were calculated by Cox models stratified by age (baseline age, years: 40–44, 45–54, 55–64, 65–74, ≥75), after adjustment for age at baseline, sex, pre-existing diabetes, smoking status, alcohol use, physical activity, hepatitis B virus infection, hepatitis C virus infection, liver cirrhosis, body mass index, alanine aminotransferase levels, and total cholesterol (when applicable)
  4. bStatin use within 6 months after baseline was adjusted for in the multivariable analysis
  5. cThe first 6 months of follow-up were excluded
  6. dBecause 833 users were prescribed exactly 40 cDDDs, during 6 months after baseline health examination, the number of participants were different between two groups
  7. eStatin use within 2 years after baseline was adjusted for in the multivariable analysis
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