ArticleAmerican journal of clinical dermatology2021
Isotretinoin and Risk of Cardiovascular Events in Adults with Acne: A Population-based Retrospective Cohort Study.
Article in American journal of clinical dermatology, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 8 citations in OpenAlex.
- Systematic Review of Rare Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events Associated With the Treatment of Acne With Isotretinoin.The Australasian journal of dermatology · 2025Pooled it
- Characterising heart rhythm abnormalities associated with Xp22.31 deletion.Journal of medical genetics · 2023Article
- A Young Patient Presenting with Dilated Cardiomyopathy and Renal Infarction during Treatment with Isotretinoin: Mere Coincidence or Serious Side Effect of a Drug Commonly Used in Adolescence?Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- Electrocardiogram abnormalities in patients with acne undergoing isotretinoin therapy: a focused review.Anais brasileiros de dermatologiaReview
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundCase reports have suggested isotretinoin exposure may be associated with adverse cardiac events. There are limited data where the cardiovascular safety of isotretinoin is systematically evaluated.
objectiveThe aim of this study was to determine the strength of association between isotretinoin exposure and adverse cardiovascular events.
methodsThis was a population-based retrospective cohort study within an integrated healthcare delivery system. Adults ≥ 18 years of age with acne between 2009 and 2018 were included. Exposure to isotretinoin was identified using pharmacy records, and propensity score 1:1 matching was performed. The primary outcome was a composite of cardiovascular outcomes, including acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, and all-cause death.
resultsThe cohort consisted of 12,140 adults (10.5%) exposed to isotretinoin and 103,126 adults who were never exposed. Mean follow-up was 7.1 ± 2.9 years. After propensity score 1:1 matching, 23,844 patients were included. The rates of the composite cardiovascular outcomes were 0.47 versus 0.48 per 1000 person-years in the isotretinoin and non-exposed groups, respectively. No significant association was observed between isotretinoin treatment and the composite cardiovascular outcomes (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0.99, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.62-1.58), all-cause mortality (adjusted HR 1.10, 95% CI 0.62-1.95), acute myocardial infarction (adjusted HR 1.00, 95% CI 0.33-3.09), congestive heart failure (adjusted HR 0.45, 95% CI 0.14-1.40), or atrial fibrillation (adjusted HR 0.44, 95% CI 0.12-1.65).
conclusionsAmong adult patients with acne, no association was found between exposure to isotretinoin and an increased risk of cardiovascular events. Physicians should not be discouraged from prescribing isotretinoin out of concern for cardiovascular effects.
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