Statins Increase Diabetes, Cataract Risk in KTRs

STATINS ARE WELL tolerated in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs), but the cholesterol-lowering drugs may slightly increase the risks of specific adverse events, including diabetes, data show. Investigators compared the effects of statin use and nonuse among 57,699 KTRs on Medicare from the United

States Renal Data System. Posttransplant diabetes mellitus occurred within 5 years in 43% of statin users and 35% of nonusers, Mara A. McAdams-DeMarco, PhD, of the NYU Grossman School of Medicine in New York, and colleagues reported in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology

The incidence rates of cataracts (22% vs 12%), hemorrhagic stroke (1.9% vs 1.4%), and rhabdomyolysis (1.5% vs 0.9%) were also higher among statin users. Liver injury occurred in a lower proportion of statin users (2% vs 3%). In multivariable analysis, statin use was significantly associated with a 12% higher risk of posttransplant diabetes mellitus, a 22% higher risk of cataracts, and a 37% higher risk of rhabdomyolysis. Statin use was significantly associated with an 18% lower risk of liver injury. Use of the drugs was not associated with hemorrhagic stroke. These associations did not differ by statin type. ■