Key clinical point: Statin users had a consistent, significant, dose-dependent reduction in the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in a nested case-control study. Aspirin users showed some reduction in risk, but it was not dose dependent.
Major finding: In the nested case-control study, both statin use, and aspirin use were significantly associated with reduced HCC risk (odds ratio 0.34 and 0.92, respectively), but only statins showed a dose-dependent risk reduction.
Study details: The data come from a nationwide, nested case-control study with a cohort of 538 135 treatment-naïve, non-cirrhotic adults with chronic hepatitis B. The participants were identified from data gathered between 2005 and 2015 through the National Health Insurance Service in Korea. From this group, 6,539 HCC cases were matched to 26,156 controls.
Disclosures: The study received no outside funding. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.
Source: Choi W-M et al. Liver Int. 2021. doi: 10.1111/liv.15011.