Continuation or Discontinuation of Statin Therapy Did Not Influence Patient Outcomes after the Development of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Abstract

Background. The anti-inflammatory effects of statin therapy may be beneficial in the treatment and prevention of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Objectives. Determine if continuation or discontinuation of prior statin therapy is associated with ventilator-free days (VFDs) at day 28 in patients with ARDS. Methods. Patients with ARDS admitted to the intensive care units of a tertiary care medical center were evaluated in this retrospective cohort study. Included patients were allocated to three groups: patients in whom statin therapy was given before and continued after ARDS diagnosis (Group 1), patients with statin therapy only before ARDS diagnosis (Group 2), and patients never exposed to statins (Group 3). Results. Of 244 patients evaluated, 187 were included; 17 (9.1%) patients in Group 1, 20 (10.7%) in Group 2, and 150 in Group 3. There were no differences among groups in APACHE II or SOFA scores. VFDs were not significantly different among groups (median 0 versus 4.5 versus 13.5 days, P=0.21). After adjustment for baseline characteristics, including propensity for statin administration, statin therapy was not associated with increased VFDs on linear regression. Conclusions. Exposure to statins before or after ARDS diagnosis was not associated with improved VFDs in this cohort of patients with ARDS.