Statins may facilitate Parkinson's disease: Insight gained from a large, national claims database

Objective: Using a large U.S. claims database (MarketScan), we investigated the controversy surrounding the role of statins in Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods: We performed a retrospective case-control analysis. First, we identified 2322 incident PD cases having a minimum of 2.5 years of continuous enrollment prior to earliest diagnosis code or prescription of antiparkinson medication. A total of 2322 controls were then matched individually by age, gender, and a follow-up window to explore the relationship of statin use with incident PD. Results: Statin usage was significantly associated with PD risk, with the strongest associations being for lipophilic (odds ratio = 1.58, P <.0001) versus hydrophilic (odds ratio = 1.19, P =.25) statins, statins plus nonstatins (odds ratio = 1.95, P <.0001), and for the initial period after starting statins (<1 year odds ratio = 1.82, 1-2.5 years odds ratio = 1.75, and ≥2.5 years odds ratio = 1.37; P_trend <.0001). Conclusion: The use of statin (especially lipophilics) was associated with higher risk of PD, and the stronger association in initial use suggests a facilitating effect.