Statins cut fibrosis risk in MASLD patients: New findings!

In a cohort study issued in “BMJ Open Gastroenterology”, statins  (particularly at moderate and high doses) were linked to a decreased likelihood of advanced fibrosis in primary care patients suffering from metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Researchers explored whether statin prescriptions could help prevent the progression of liver fibrosis MASLD. In this retrospective study, 1,238 MASLD-affected patients with initially low or indeterminate fibrosis risk along with a Fibrosis-4 Index (FIB-4) score of <2.67 were selected.

These patients were monitored over time, starting from their initial FIB-4 score, to see if they would progress to a higher risk level for fibrosis (FIB-4 score of 2.67 or greater) or until the study ended. Of the patients, 47% were prescribed statins, and 18% progressed to high-risk fibrosis. In the Cox models, statin use was linked to a reduced hazard of progressing to a high-risk FIB-4 score (≥2.67). Specifically, overall statin use was related to a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.60 (95% CI 0.45–0.80).

When considering statin intensity, both moderate (HR 0.60; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.42–0.84) and high intensity (HR 0.61; 95% CI 0.42–0.88) statins were connected with a lower chance of high-risk FIB-4 progression. Hence, statins, especially at moderate to high doses, appeared to help slow the progression of liver fibrosis in patients with MASLD, highlighting their potential benefit in managing this condition.