Table 3 Adverse events in studies testing statin pretreatment

PROSPER Study (Shepherd 2002 [22])

Randomized controlled trial

8804

3.2 years

25% increased incidence of cancers (P = 0.020) in patients receiving statin compared to placebo. Meta-analysis of previous pravastatin and other statin trials showed no overall increase in cancer risk.

CTT study (Baigent 2005 [12])

Prospective meta-analysis of 14 randomized trials

90 056

5 years

No evidence of increased the incidence of cancer by statins (OR = 1.00, 95% CI 0.95-1.06; P = 0.9). Excess risk for rhabdomyolysis with statin not significant.

SPARCL Trial (Amarenco 2006 [13],

Double-blind, randomized,

4731

Median 4.9 years

Hemorrhagic stroke was more frequent in statin group, in those with a hemorrhagic stroke as an entry event. Total and LDL cholesterol levels did not affect the risk of hemorrhagic stroke.

Goldstein 2008 [23]

Multicenter trial

Meier 2009 [24]

Prospective cohort study

311

3 months

More patients with ICH were on statins (30% vs. 15%, P = 0.005). Frequency of ICH is associated with previous statin use (OR = 3.1; 95% CI = 1.53-6.39; P = 0.004).