Statin use and the risk of herpes zoster: a nested case-control study using primary care data from the U.K. Clinical Research Practice Datalink.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Statins are commonly prescribed worldwide and recent evidence suggests that they may increase the risk of herpes zoster (HZ).

Objectives

To quantify the effect of statin exposure on the risk of HZ in the U.K.

Methods

A matched case-control study was conducted using data from U.K. primary care and hospital records. Patients > 18 years with an incident diagnosis of HZ were matched to up to four controls for age, sex and general practice. Patients were included in the statin exposure group if they had ever used a statin, and the daily dosage of the most recent statin prescription and the time since the most recent statin prescription were also recorded. The primary outcome was an incident diagnosis of HZ. Odds ratios (ORs) were estimated from conditional logis

SUBMITTER: Matthews A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5215701 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature