(1) Background: Statin is the mainstay of treatment for the primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiocerebrovascular diseases (CCVDs) in adults with hypercholesterolemia. This study aims to investigate the differences in effect on primary composite outcomes (CCVDs and CCVD-related deaths) among five statins in hypercholesterolemic individuals. (2) Methods: This retrospective study is based on the Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Health Screening Cohort. Participants, aged 40 to 69 years at baseline, were categorized into five statin-treated groups (pitavastatin, atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, simvastatin, and pravastatin) and two untreated groups (untreated hypercholesterolemia and no hypercholesterolemia). (3) Results: A total of 161,583 individuals was included. The median follow-up period was 8.2 years. Compared with the pitavastatin group, the hazard ratios (HRs; 95% confidence intervals (CIs)) for CCVDs and CCVD-related deaths of the atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, simvastatin, pravastatin, untreated hypercholesterolemia, and no-hypercholesterolemia groups were 0.969 (0.567-1.657), 0.988 (0.533-1.832), 0.862 (0.490-1.518), 0.906 (0.326-2.515), 2.665 (1.556-4.562), and 0.656 (0.388-1.110), respectively, in men and 1.124 (0.632-1.999), 1.119 (0.582-2.152), 1.324 (0.730-2.400), 1.023 (0.330-3.171), 2.650 (1.476-4.758), and 0.921 (0.522-1.625), respectively, in women, after being fully adjusted. (4) Conclusions: No significant differences among the five statins were observed, but there was an increased risk in untreated hypercholesterolemic individuals, for CCVDs and CCVDs-related deaths in individuals with hypercholesterolemia of either sex.
Keywords: HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors; cardiovascular diseases; cerebrovascular diseases; hypercholesterolemia; pitavastatin.