Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41518144›Full record

SynthesisAlimentary pharmacology & therapeutics2026

Statin Therapy Independently Reduces Mortality and Liver Complications in Patients With Cirrhosis: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Bernardo de Faria Moraes, Gustavo André Pedral Diniz Leite, Igor Boechat Silveira, Gabriel André Pedral Diniz Leite, Maria Luisa Motta Fonseca, Leonardo Corrêa Suffert, Luisa Medeiros Visentini, Luis Pedro Possapp Beis, Guilherme Grossi Lopes Cançado

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics, 2026. 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.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. [Novel targets and drugs for the treatment of portal hypertension in liver cirrhosis].Zhonghua gan zang bing za zhi = Zhonghua ganzangbing zazhi = Chinese journal of hepatology · 2026
    Review
  4. Preventing First and Further Decompensation in Advanced Chronic Liver Disease.Liver international : official journal of the International Association for the Study of the Liver · 2026
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Bernardo de Faria MoraesUniversidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
Gustavo André Pedral Diniz LeiteUniversidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
Igor Boechat SilveiraUniversidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Brazil.
Gabriel André Pedral Diniz LeiteUniversidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7836-7497
Maria Luisa Motta FonsecaPontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Leonardo Corrêa SuffertPontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0009-7210-6713
Luisa Medeiros VisentiniUniversidade do Oeste Paulista, Presidente Prudente, Brazil.
Luis Pedro Possapp BeisPontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Guilherme Grossi Lopes CançadoHospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7824-2152

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe role of statins in cirrhosis remains controversial. Historically restricted due to safety concerns, emerging evidence highlights potential pleiotropic benefits, though effects on mortality and decompensation remain uncertain.

aimsTo evaluate the effects of statin therapy on all-cause mortality, hepatic decompensation, hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in cirrhosis.

methodsWe systematically searched major databases until July 2025 for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies comparing statin therapy versus non-use in cirrhosis. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed.

resultsThe meta-analysis included 25 studies (9 RCTs, 16 observational) with 81,992 patients. Statins reduced all-cause mortality in the overall analysis (unadjusted odds ratio 0.59; 95% CI: 0.48-0.71) and in RCTs (odds ratio 0.45; 95% CI 0.25-0.82), supported by a significant HVPG reduction. Conversely, statins reduced hepatic decompensation in the overall analysis (unadjusted odds ratio 0.56; 95% CI: 0.47-0.66) but not in RCTs (odds ratio 0.75; 95% CI: 0.52-1.09). Observational data indicated a protective association for HCC (adjusted hazard ratio 0.61; 95% CI: 0.46-0.82), and no RCT reported this outcome.

conclusionsStatin therapy is associated with improved survival in cirrhosis, supported mechanistically by reductions in portal pressure. Observational evidence suggests benefits for decompensation and HCC, though these remain uncertain due to residual confounding. Large-scale, long-term RCTs are needed to clarify the role of statins as disease-modifying therapy in cirrhosis.

Indexed as

Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase InhibitorsLiver CirrhosisCarcinoma, HepatocellularHumansLiver NeoplasmsRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicHydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitorscirrhosishepatocellular carcinomamortalityportal hypertensionstatins

Identifiers

PMID41518144
PMCPMC12934547

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.