Statins decrease the risk of decompensation in HBV- and HCV-related cirrhosis: A population-based study.

Abstract Statin decreased the risk of decompensation and mortality in veteran patients with cirrhosis due to hepatitis C virus (HCV). Whether this beneficial effect can be extended to cirrhosis in general population or cirrhosis with other causes, such as hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and alcohol, remains unknown. Statin also decreased the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic HBV and HCV infection. It is unclear whether the effect can be observed in patients already with cirrhosis. We aimed to determine the statin effect on decreasing decompensation, mortality and HCC in HBV-, HCV- and alcohol-related cirrhosis. Cirrhotic patients were identified from a representative cohort of Taiwan National Health Insurance beneficiaries from 2000-2013. Statin users, defined as having a cumulative defined daily dose (cDDD) ≥ 28, were selected and served as the case cohort. Statin non-users (