Background: While statins have shown antiviral effects in different studies, few data are available about their effect among different HCV genotypes.
Aim: To evaluate the effect of concomitant statin use on sustained virologic response (SVR) and other treatment outcomes among patients with HCV genotypes 1-3.
Method: Using US Department of Veterans Affairs database, multivariate (MV), propensity score matched (PSM) and repeated measures mixed model analyses were performed on patients who received combination therapy with Peg-IFN and Ribavirin for treatment of HCV genotypes 1-3 between October 2001-December 2011. Concomitant statin users were matched with non-users in each genotype and SVR rates were compared. Changes in serum ALT during treatment was assessed.
Results: Of 37,611 treated patients, 236 genotype 1 (GT1), 78 genotype 2 (GT2) and 23 genotype 3 (GT3) statin users and non-users were used for PSM. SVR among GT1 patients was 22.8% (overall), significantly higher among statin users (26.3% vs. 19.5% P<0.01 from PSM; OR=1.49 CI 1.06-2.08 P=0.02 from MV). No significant impact of statin use was observed among GT2 (overall SVR - 55.8%, statin users vs. non-users - 53.9% vs. 57.7%, P=0.32), and GT3 (overall SVR - 58.7%, statin users vs. non-users - 60.9% vs. 56.2%, P=0.39) patients. Higher baseline LDL was positively associated with SVR while statin use reduced ALT during treatment in GT1 patients.
Conclusion: In view of additional benefits of statins, and the prohibitive cost of newer HCV therapies, statins could be a potential assist for hard-to-treat GT1 patients especially in resource-poor settings.
Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.