Statins do not improve short-term survival in an oriental population with sepsis

Am J Emerg Med. 2007 Jun;25(5):494-501. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2006.09.011.

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to define the effect of statin on 30-day mortality in an oriental population with sepsis.

Design: We conducted a retrospective study on patients with sepsis at National Taiwan University Hospital from 2001 to 2002. The effects of statins on 30-day mortality were evaluated based on clinical settings. Log-rank test and Cox regression analysis were performed using the proportional hazards assumption.

Results: A total of 763 episodes of sepsis were reviewed; 454 consecutive patients were considered eligible. Among them, 104 (22.9%) took a statin at least 30 days before admission and during sepsis course, whereas the other 350 control (77.1%) did not. There was no significant difference of 30-day sepsis-related mortality between groups (19.2% vs 18.9%, P = .952). Statin treatment was not associated with decreased mortality at 30 days (P = .853; risk ratio, 0.95; 95% confidence interval, 0.53-1.68).

Conclusion: Short-term, sepsis-related mortality in a septic Taiwanese population was not reduced with statin treatment in our study. We concluded that statin therapy may have little effect on the survival of sepsis in oriental people, particularly in Taiwanese.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / administration & dosage
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sepsis / drug therapy*
  • Sepsis / mortality*
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Survival Analysis
  • Taiwan / epidemiology

Substances

  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors