Recently Haukka et al. investigated the association of statin use with all-cause and disease specific mortality utilizing nationwide databases in Finland. We feel that the interpretation of these results is difficult and that a more appropriate study design might have improved the study. In their large study, all persons in Finland who had purchased at least one statin prescription between 1997 and 2005 were compared with a control group matched for age, sex, and place of residence from the general population. We think that the authors have chosen the wrong control group. Statins are predominantly prescribed in patients with coronary heart disease (i.e. secondary prevention). However, the control group of the present study includes predominantly patients without coronary heart disease. La our opinion, these two groups are by definition incomparable.
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