The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 268 No 7191 p419-425
30 March 2002

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Statin therapy taken before cardiac interventions reduces mortality

Treating cardiac patients with statins at the time they undergo percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) reduces 30-day mortality by nearly two-thirds.

Researchers from Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, reported the finding last week at the American College of Cardiology 51st Annual Scientific Session. Results showed that 23.5 per cent of 6,647 patients were treated with statins at the time they had coronary angioplasty. Statin therapy was associated with a 60 per cent lower mortality at 30 days (1.0 per cent mortality in patients on statins, compared with 2.5 per cent in those who were not; P=0.0007). Patients treated with statins maintained a 37 per cent reduction in mortality at six months (3.1 per cent vs 4.9 per cent, P=0.003).

Further data presented at the meeting showed that atorvastatin (Lipitor) reduced atherosclerotic inflammation and suggested that immediate treatment with the statin may promote rapid plaque stabilisation in patients who have suffered a myocardial infarction.

Dr Albert Chan, lead researcher of the PCI study, said: "Our study supports the research showing the early benefits of statin therapy for heart attack patients, showing that statin therapy is also associated with a mortality benefit early after coronary angioplasty and stenting."

Statin therapy was an independent predictor for survival at six months after coronary revascularisation. All subgroups of patients in the study achieved similar benefit, including the elderly, females and patients with diabetes.

"These results support the practice of initiating statin therapy as soon as possible before angioplasty and stenting in those patients who are not already on statins," he concluded.
— Contributed.