The association between atorvastatin use and prothrombin time, apolipoprotein A-I levels, and apolipoprotein B levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and no history of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Recent observational studies have demonstrated an association between apolipoproteins and vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors. Further research investigating this association is required. This study aimed to assess the association between atorvastatin use and prothrombin time (PT), apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I) levels, and apolipoprotein B (ApoB) levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients without established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and to investigate the association between PT and these apolipoproteins. METHODS AND RESULTS: A cross-sectional study recruited 147 T2DM patients attending Family Medicine clinics at King Abdullah University Hospital and Jordan University of Science and Technology Health Care Center, 72 patients started receiving atorvastatin at least 6 months before the recruitment date (case group), and 75 patients were not on statins (control group). PT showed an inverse association with ApoB in both groups (case group: β = -0.09, 95% CI: -0.17 to -0.02, p = 0.017; and control group: β = -0.08, 95% CI: -0.15 to -0.02, p = 0.015). No significant association was observed between PT and ApoA-I. CONCLUSION: The inverse association between PT and ApoB may suggest a potential link between the reduction in ApoB levels, through atorvastatin use, and the modulation of coagulation pathways relevant to venous thrombosis, although this requires confirmation in future prospective studies.