Posted on the Pediatric SuperSite on October 29, 2009
Statin treatment linked to reduced mortality in patients with influenza
Treatment with statins may be associated with a
reduction in mortality in patients hospitalized with influenza, according to
results of a new study presented today at the 47th Annual Meeting of the
Infectious Diseases Society of America.
Meredith VanderMeer, MPH,
from the Oregon Public Health Division, who presented the results at a press
conference, said that the results indicate that statins are “a promising
area for further exploration” and may be a “possible useful adjunct
to antiviral medications and vaccines.”
The study results were based on data from the Emerging
Infections Program, which conducts active surveillance for patients
hospitalized with influenza in 59 counties in 10 states.
VanderMeer and her colleagues conducted chart review
analyses of all patients aged 18 years and older who were included in the
Emerging Infections Program data. Data for two influenza seasons were examined.
There were a total of 3,921 lab-confirmed influenza associated hospitalizations
during the study period. Twenty-six percent (n=1,019) of these patients
received statins during hospitalization.
VanderMeer said patients who received statins during
hospitalization were more likely to be older, male, white or Asian, to have
underlying health conditions such as cardiovascular disease and to have been
vaccinated against influenza that season.
VanderMeer’s multivariable logistic regression
model indicated that age (OR=1.06, CI: 1.04-1.08 per year increase) and
cardiovascular disease (OR=2.91, CI: 1.52-5.56) were associated with an
increased mortality risk. The administration of statins during hospitalization
was associated with a significant reduction in mortality risk (OR=0.34, CI:
0.16-0.70).
VanderMeer said more randomized controlled trials
examining the effects of statins on patients with influenza should be
conducted.
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