Key result
Statin use linked to ~2.3-fold higher incidence of new-onset diabetes.
Why the study?
The incidence of new-onset diabetes mellitus and prediabetes among statin users compared with non-statin users in the Hail health cluster, Saudi Arabia, needed assessment.
Does statin use increase the incidence of new-onset diabetes and prediabetes compared with non-statin use in adults aged ≥18 years without prior diabetes or prediabetes?
Cohort (n=592)
Yes
Does statin use increase the incidence of new-onset diabetes and prediabetes compared with non-statin use in adults aged ≥18 years without prior diabetes or prediabetes?
In a Saudi Arabian cohort, statin therapy was associated with significantly increased risks of new-onset diabetes and prediabetes, emphasizing the importance of routine glycemic monitoring in patients prescribed statins.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
May support glycemic monitoring in statin users; leaves open causality in randomized settings.
Objective: This study aimed to assess the incidence of NODM and prediabetes among statin users compared with non-statin users in the Hail health cluster, Hail region, Saudi Arabia. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 592 adults aged ≥18 years, equally divided into statin-exposed and non-exposed groups (n=296 each). Individuals with prior diabetes or prediabetes were excluded. Data were extracted from medical records, including demographics, BMI, lipid profile, fasting blood glucose (FBG), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and details of statin use. NODM was defined as FBG ≥126 mg/dL or HbA1c ≥6.5% at follow-up. Results: NODM incidence was significantly higher in statin users (9.5% vs. 4.1%, p=0.006); prediabetes occurred more often in the exposed group (6.1% vs. 1.4%, p<0.001), with comparable mean time to the development of new-onset diabetes mellitus (NODM) (30.6 ± 17.2 vs. 26.5 ± 7.7 months; p = 0.29). For risk calculation, cases exposed to statins had 2.33 times higher risk of developing NODM compared to cases not exposed. Additionally, cases exposed to statins had 4.35 times higher risk of developing prediabetes compared to cases not exposed. Conclusion: Statin use was associated with higher rates of new-onset diabetes and prediabetes, with greater rises in FBG and HbA1c, highlighting the need for glucose monitoring.
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Alshammari et al. (2026) conducted a cohort in Dyslipidemia or atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease without baseline diabetes or prediabetes (n=592). Statin therapy (atorvastatin or rosuvastatin) vs. Non-statin users was evaluated on Incidence of new-onset diabetes mellitus (NODM, defined as follow-up FBG ≥126 mg/dL and/or HbA1c ≥6.5%) (RR 2.33, p=0.006). Statin use was associated with a higher incidence of new-onset diabetes (9.5% vs 4.1%; RR 2.33, p=0.006; adjusted HR 3.688) and prediabetes (6.1% vs 1.4%; RR 4.35, p<0.001) than non-use.
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