OBJECTIVES:

The aim of this study was to explore the association between the use of statins and esophageal cancer in Taiwan.

METHODS:

We designed a case-control study using database from the Taiwan National Health Insurance program. In all, 549 patients (cases) aged 20 years or older diagnosed recently with esophageal cancer, from 2000 to 2009, and 2,196 subjects (controls) without esophageal cancer participated in this study. The association between esophageal cancer and the use of statins and other co-morbidities was measured.

RESULTS:

After adjustment for covariates, multivariate logistic regression showed that patients with a cumulative duration of ≥ 12 months of using atorvastatin might have a reduced risk of esophageal cancer, compared with those who did not use statins (odds ratio [OR] 0.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.04-0.56). The other statins could not show a significant association with esophageal cancer. Age (OR 1.01, 95% CI 1.00-1.01), alcoholism (OR 3.83, 95% CI 3.01-4.89), and esophageal diseases (OR 4.60, 95% CI 3.46-6.12) were independent factors significantly associated with esophageal cancer.

CONCLUSIONS:

Use of atorvastatin ≥ 12 months may correlate with an 86% reduction of esophageal cancer risk.