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. 2022 Jun 1;5(6):e2218323.
doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.18323.

Association Between Statin Use and Progression of Arterial Stiffness Among Adults With High Atherosclerotic Risk

Yan-Feng Zhou  1 , Yanxiu Wang  2 , Guodong Wang  2 , Zhen Zhou  3 , Shuohua Chen  2 , Tingting Geng  1 , Yan-Bo Zhang  1 , Yi Wang  1 , Jun-Xiang Chen  1 , An Pan  1 , Shouling Wu  2
Affiliations

Association Between Statin Use and Progression of Arterial Stiffness Among Adults With High Atherosclerotic Risk

Yan-Feng Zhou et al. JAMA Netw Open. .

Abstract

Importance: Limited studies have investigated the association between statin use and progression of arterial stiffness, a key player in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease.

Objective: To examine the association between statin use and progression of arterial stiffness in Chinese adults with high atherosclerotic risk measured by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV).

Design, setting, and participants: This retrospective cohort study enrolled 5105 adults with high atherosclerotic risk from the Kailuan General Hospital from 2010 to 2020. Data were analyzed from February 2021 to April 2022.

Exposures: Statin use information was retrieved from electronic medical records from 2010 to 2020, and statin users were those who have been prescribed any statin medications at least 6 months before baPWV measurements. Statin users were 1:1 matched with non-statin users by propensity score method.

Main outcomes and measures: Progression of baPWV was assessed using the absolute difference between baseline and follow-up baPWV, divided by the follow-up time in years. Multivariable linear regression models were used to estimate the association between statin use and arterial stiffness.

Results: Among 5105 adults with assessment of baPWV (mean [SD] age: 60.8 [9.7] years; 3842 [75.3%] men and 1263 [24.7%] women), 1310 statin users were matched with 1310 non-statin users (mean [SD] age, 63.2 [9.3] years). Compared with non-statin users, statin users were associated with significantly lower baPWV at baseline (difference: -33.6 cm/s; 95% CI, -62.1 to -5.1 cm/s). Among 1502 adults with repeated assessment of baPWV, 410 statin users were matched with 410 non-statin users (mean [SD] age, 62.9 [9.2] years). Compared with non-statin users, statin users had significantly slower progression of baPWV (difference, -23.3 cm/s per year; 95% CI, -40.6 to -6.0 cm/s per year) during a mean (SD) follow-up of 4.8 (2.7) years. A significantly slower progression of baPWV was observed in continuous statin users (difference, -24.2 cm/s per year; 95% CI, -42.2 to -6.3 cm/s per year) and high adherent users (difference, -39.7 cm/s per year; 95% CI, -66.9 to -12.4 cm/s per year), but not in discontinued users (difference, -17.3 cm/s per year; 95% CI, -52.4 to 17.8 cm/s per year) and low adherent users (difference, -17.9 cm/s per year; 95% CI, -36.5 to 0.7 cm/s per year), compared with non-statin users.

Conclusions and relevance: In this cohort study, statin use was associated with slower progression of arterial stiffness in Chinese adults with high atherosclerotic risk.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None reported.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Participant Flowchart
Abbreviations: baPWV, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity; CVD, cardiovascular disease.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.. Subgroup Analyses for the Associations of Statin Use With Brachial-Ankle Pulse Wave Velocity (baPWV) and Its Progression According to Baseline Characteristics
hs-CRP indicates high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. To convert hs-CRP to milligrams per liter, multiply by 10.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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