Background: Aortic stenosis (AS) is a common progressive disease. Statins have been hypothesized to delay its progression via pleiotropic mechanisms. However, results of clinical trials focusing on statin therapy in AS patients have been controversial.
Objective: To analyse and summarize the findings in recent statin trials and to discuss the rationale of statin usage in AS populations.
Methods: A comprehensive database search was conducted by two independent reviewers. Controlled trials that compared progression of AS between statin and non-statin therapy published before 31 December 2008 were included. Data were extracted for meta-analysis, to estimate overall effects, if available. Factors that contributed to heterogeneities among the trials were analysed.
Results: The meta-analysis included nine trials with a total of 2947 patients. Statin therapy displayed an overall statistically significant effect on delaying AS progression. The weighted mean difference (statin vs. control) of annual increase of peak aortic-jet velocity was -0·12 m/s (95% confidence interval -0·22 to -0·03); the increase of mean transaortic pressure gradient was -1·64 mmHg per year (-3·27 to -0·01); Heterogeneity-analysis suggested that the baseline risk factors and characteristics of the patients, the use of different statins, and the time point to initiate statin therapy, may be important considerations when interpreting the result of individual studies.
Conclusion: Although the Simvastatin and Ezetimibe in Aortic Stenosis (SEAS) trial reported negative results in delaying AS progression in low-risk patients, the potential benefits of statins in those with multiple risk factors and their value in preventing future coronary events call for further investigation of different categories of AS patients.