Statins May Mitigate Cardiovascular Risks in Lung Cancer Patients Receiving Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

Strategic Insights -

Researchers at Harvard Medical School have conducted a study to investigate the potential benefits of statins in reducing cardiovascular risks in lung cancer patients undergoing immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). The researchers analyzed data from the TriNetX database, identifying 16,650 lung cancer patients who received ICIs between April 2013 and June 2023. The study found that statin use was associated with a lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), particularly myocardial infarction and heart failure, as well as a reduction in all-cause mortality without an increased risk of serious immune-related adverse events.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study involved 16,650 lung cancer patients receiving ICIs between April 2013 and June 2023, with 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).
  • Statin use was also associated with a reduction in all-cause mortality (HR: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.77-0.90) without an increased risk of serious immune-related adverse events.
  • The study suggests that statin use may be beneficial in lung cancer patients with cardiovascular risk factors and without previous cardiovascular events undergoing immunotherapy.

Statistics:

  • 16,650 lung cancer patients identified in the study (Source: TriNetX database)
  • 6,812 statin users and 9,838 non-users (Source: TriNetX database)
  • 4,379 patients matched in baseline characteristics after propensity score matching (Source: TriNetX database)
  • 12-month follow-up period (Source: TriNetX database)
  • Statin use associated with a 13% lower risk of MACE (HR: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.78-0.98) (Source: Harvard Medical School study)
  • Statin use associated with a 25% lower risk of myocardial infarction (HR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.58-0.97) (Source: Harvard Medical School study)
  • Statin use associated with a 15% lower risk of heart failure (HR: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.74-0.98) (Source: Harvard Medical School study)
  • Statin use associated with a 17% lower risk of all-cause mortality (HR: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.77-0.90) (Source: Harvard Medical School study)

Sources:

  • Statin and Immune-related Cardiovascular Events In Lung Cancer Patients Receiving Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors. Oncology, 2025:1-14.
  • Harvard Medical School, Mt Auburn Hosp, Dept. of Medicine, Cambridge, MA 02115, United States.
  • Karger, Allschwilerstrasse 10, Ch-4009 Basel, Switzerland.