Commentary
Patients with NAFLD are at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Statins reduce the risk of cardiovascular events. Studies have shown statins are safe among patients with liver disease. Despite these data, statins are under prescribed among patients with liver disease due to concerns about hepatotoxicity. This study aimed to assess prevalence and patient factors associated with indicated statin use in patients with NAFLD in a real-world cohort.
In this study by M. J. Thomson et al. (Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA), only 56% of patients with NAFLD were taking guideline-recommended statin therapy. Statin use decreased as NAFLD became more advanced, likely reflecting safety concerns in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. Women were less likely to be on an indicated statin compared to men.
