Article PDF first page preview

First page of Statin and Immune-Related Cardiovascular Events in Lung Cancer Patients Receiving Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

Backgrounds: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have improved lung cancer treatment but are associated with an increased risk of cardiotoxicity. We investigated whether statins could mitigate ICI-associated cardiovascular risks in lung cancer patients. Methods: We performed a retrospective, propensity score-matched cohort study utilizing the TriNetX database. We identified lung cancer patients receiving ICIs between April 2013 and June 2023. We created two cohorts: statin users and non-users. The primary efficacy outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), defined as a composite of myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and heart failure. The secondary efficacy outcomes were myocarditis and cardiac arrest. Safety outcomes were all-cause mortality and serious immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Results: A total of 16,650 lung cancer patients undergoing ICIs were identified, consisting of 6,812 statin users and 9,838 non-users. After propensity score matching, 4,379 patients were well-matched in baseline characteristics. Over a follow-up period of 12 months, statin use was associated with a lower risk of MACE (HR: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.78-0.98), primarily driven by reductions in myocardial infarction (HR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.58-0.97) and heart failure (HR: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.74-0.98). For safety outcomes, statin use was associated with a reduction in all-cause mortality (HR: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.77-0.90) and did not result in an increased risk of serious irAEs. Conclusions: The use of statins in lung cancer patients with cardiovascular risk factors and without previous cardiovascular events undergoing immunotherapy was associated with a reduction in MACE and all-cause mortality without an increased risk of serious adverse events.

Journal Section:
Clinical Study
This content is only available via PDF.
S. Karger AG, Basel
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
2025
You do not currently have access to this content.