Statins increase the risk of death by 45% in patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia

This study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association 2013 Oct 9

 

Study title and authors:

Effect of Statin Therapy on Mortality in Patients With Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Papazian L, Roch A, Charles PE, Penot-Ragon C, Perrin G, Roulier P, Goutorbe P, Lefrant JY, Wiramus S, Jung B, Perbet S, Hernu R, Nau A, Baldesi O, Allardet-Servent J, Baumstarck K, Jouve E, Moussa M, Hraiech S, Guervilly C, Forel JM

Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, Hôpital Nord, Réanimation des Détresses Respiratoires et des Infections Sévères UMR-CNRS 7278, Aix-Marseile Université, Marseille, France.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24108510

Ventilator-associated pneumonia is the most common infection in the intensive care unit and is associated with substantial death rates.

The objective of the study was to determine the effects of statins on 28 day death rates in patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia. This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group, multicenter trial performed in 26 intensive care units in France included 300 patients who took either simvastatin or placebo.

The study found that patients taking statins had a 45% increased risk of death in 28 days compared to patients not taking statins.

The trial was due to analyse 1,002 patient but was stopped early because of the excess deaths in the patients taking simvastatin. Papazian commented: "It would have been ethically unacceptable to continue the trial after the interim analysis, which showed higher day-28 mortality in the simvastatin group".