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Huang CY, Chung SD, Kao LT, Lin HC, Wang LH. Statin Use Is Associated with Bladder Pain Syndrome/Interstitial Cystitis: A Population-Based Case-Control Study. Urol Int. 2015 Jul 16. [Epub ahead of print]

Researchers in Taiwan have published a report suggesting that there is an assocation between the use of statin drugs and interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS). The study, which is based on an analysis of a health insurance database in Taiwan, included the records of 815 female subjects with IC/BPS and those of another 4,075 female subjects randomly selected from the general population as a control group. Statistical analysis of these groups showed that statin use was more prevalent among the IC/BPS cases than in the general population. While this study was just observational and not designed to conclusively show that taking statins causes IC/BPS, the evidence does suggest an association between the two. The researchers explained that statin drugs might cause dysfunction of the bladder lining, thus potentially setting the stage for development of IC/BPS.