Statins are associated with impaired health status in patients fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator

This study was published in the American Journal of Cardiology 2013 Jan 26

 

Study title and authors:

Relation of Statin Therapy to Psychological Functioning in Patients With an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator.

Hoogwegt MT, Theuns DA, Kupper N, Jordaens L, Pedersen SS.

CoRPS-Center of Research on Psychology in Somatic diseases, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands; Department of Cardiology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23360769

An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is a battery-powered device placed under the skin that keeps track of your heart rate. Thin wires connect the ICD to your heart. Abnormal heart rhythms (or arrhythmias) can cause your heart to beat too quickly, too slowly or in an irregular pattern. These heart rhythms can happen suddenly and unexpectedly and sometimes people die as a result. If an abnormal heart rhythm is detected the device will deliver an electric shock to restore a normal heartbeat.

This study investigated the influence of statin therapy on the well-being and health status of patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator. The study included 409 patients who completed a health survey before implantation and three, six, and 12 months after implantation of the implantable cardioverter defibrillator. Of the 409 patients, 60% were prescribed statins.

The study found:
(a) Statin use was associated with poorer physical functioning.
(b) Statin use was associated with poorer social functioning.
(c) Statin use was associated with worse depression.

In conclusion, statin therapy was associated with impaired health status in patients fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator.