Association between Statins and Retinal Vascular Occlusion: A Population-Based Cohort Study

Chien-Cheng Chien, Po-Huang Chen, Chi-Hsiang Chung, Chien-An Sun, Wu-Chien Chien and Ke-Hung Chien
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Chien-Cheng Chien: Department of Ophthalmology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei City 114202, Taiwan
Po-Huang Chen: Department of Internal Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei City 114202, Taiwan
Chi-Hsiang Chung: School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei City 114201, Taiwan
Chien-An Sun: Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, Fu-Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City 242062, Taiwan
Wu-Chien Chien: School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei City 114201, Taiwan
Ke-Hung Chien: Department of Ophthalmology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei City 114202, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 18, 1-11

Abstract: Retinal vascular occlusion (RVO), including retinal arterial occlusion and retinal vein occlusion, is a common retinal vascular disease that causes visual disturbance. The exact pathogenesis of RVO remains unclear. In all types of RVO patients, hyperlipidemia is more than twofold more common than in controls. Statins have been used to control blood cholesterol levels and have been found to reduce the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Moreover, the immunomodulatory functions of statins may play a role in treating inflammatory diseases. This study aimed to evaluate whether patients taking statins have a lower risk of developing RVO compared to patients not taking statins. Adult patients with statins usage on the index date identified from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) between 2000 and 2013 were included. A threefold matched group was selected using age, sex, and year of index date for comparison. During the mean follow-up period of 12.87 ± 1.88 years, the cumulative incidence of RVO was significantly lower in the statin-user group (29.96 per 105 person-years [PYs]) than in the non-statin-user group (39.35 per 105 PYs). The results showed a lower cumulative incidence rate of RVO in patients prescribed statins than in those not prescribed statins (log-rank test, p = 0.020). The adjusting hazard ratio (HR) was significantly greater for RVO in the statin-user group (adjusted HR, 0.704; 95% CI, 0.591–0.873). Statin users had a decreased risk for all types of RVO development, including central retinal artery occlusion, arterial branch occlusion, central retinal vein occlusion, and branch retinal vein occlusion. In conclusion, patients undergoing statin treatment have a lower risk of developing RVO compared to patients not taking statins.

Keywords: statins; retinal vascular occlusion; population-based cohort study; risk factors (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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