Effectiveness of Statins in Reducing the Rate of Severe Sepsis: A Retrospective Evaluation

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Study Objectives. To determine whether use of 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) is associated with a reduced rate of severe sepsis, and to further characterize the effect of statins on the frequency of organ dysfunction in patients with severe sepsis.Design. Retrospective cohort study.Setting. University‐associated teaching hospital.Patients. Fifty‐three patients admitted with sepsis; 16 were receiving statins and 37 were not receiving statins (controls) before admission.Measurements and Main Results. Patients were identified by theInternational Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modificationcodes. Patient demographics, vital signs, and laboratory values were collected from their electronic medical records. The primary end point was rate of severe sepsis, defined in accordance with guidelines from the American College of Chest Physicians and the Society of Critical Care Medicine. Secondary end points were in‐hospital mortality rate and rate of five categories of organ dysfunction (cardiovascular, renal, pulmonary, hematologic, and metabolic). Preadmission statin therapy, compared with no statin therapy, was associated with a 30% lower rate of severe sepsis (56% vs 86%, pConclusion. Statins appear to prevent sepsis from becoming severe, most notably through prevention of sepsis‐induced hypotension. This potential role for statins in the prevention and treatment of severe sepsis should be further evaluated in a randomized controlled trial.

This publication has 22 references indexed in Scilit: