Protective Effects of Statins on Limb and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients with Peripheral Artery Disease and End-Stage Renal Disease.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have reported that statins have inconsistent and marginal cardiovascular (CV) benefits in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). However, whether statins play a secondary preventive role in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) and ESRD remains unclear.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare the long-term clinical outcomes between statin users and nonusers with PAD and ESRD.

METHODS: This retrospective cohort study assessed the long-term protective effects of statins using data from the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. Propensity score matching was performed according to sex, age, index year, related comorbidities, and medications. The main outcomes were limb events and major adverse CV events (MACEs).

RESULTS: The statin user group (n = 4,460) was compared with the propensity score-matched statin nonuser group (n = 4,460). The mean age of the matched patients was 64 years, and 40% of the patients were men. The baseline characteristics of the groups were well-balanced. The overall limb event and MACE rates were not different between the two groups. However, the statin user group had lower rates of limb amputation [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR): 0.85, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.73-0.99], stroke (aHR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.62-0.83), CV death (aHR: 0.46, 95% CI: 0.32-0.66), and all-cause death (aHR: 0.45, 95% CI: 0.42-0.48) despite having a higher rate of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for PAD.

CONCLUSIONS: This population-based retrospective cohort study demonstrated that statin therapy was associated with a lower risk of limb amputation, nonfatal stroke, CV death, and all-cause death in patients with PAD and ESRD.