American Journal of Cardiovascular Drugs — Martinez AI, et al. | September 27, 2018
In this retrospective cohort study, researchers used data from the Truven Health MarketScan Research Database (2009–2015) to determine the risk of gastrointestinal (GI) hemorrhage in statin users aged 30–65 years at initial prescription claim. Study participants, negative control participants (ie, other chronic medication users), were followed up until first GI hemorrhage event (both inpatient and outpatient, as well as restricted to inpatient). Researchers found that statin users had a higher risk of GI hemorrhage. This increased risk was particularly apparent in the first year of treatment, and the risk of GI hemorrhage leading to hospitalization was even greater. Compared with low-intensity statin users, high-intensity statin users had a greater rate of GI hemorrhage.