Moderate to high intensity statin in dialysis patients after acute myocardial infarction: A national cohort study in Asia

Background and aimsStatin is not beneficial for dialysis patients but moderate to high intensity statin is beneficial for patients after acute myocardial infarction (MI). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of moderate to high intensity statin on mortality, cardiovascular outcomes in dialysis patients after acute MI.MethodsData on dialysis patients were retrieved from the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. Dialysis patients admitted for MI were selected and divided into two groups according to statin prescription or not after MI. All-cause mortality and cardiovascular outcomes after a 4-year follow-up were analyzed after propensity score matching (PSM).ResultsWe identified 790 patients who received moderate to high intensity statin therapy and 1788 patients who did not receive any statins after acute MI and clinical outcomes were analyzed after 1:1 PSM. The benefit of statin on mortality therapy appeared from 1 year to the end of the 4-year follow-up period after hospitalization (statin group versus non-statin group: 22.9% vs. 31.1% at 1 year (HR: 0.70; 95% CI: 0.58–0.85); 48.0% vs. 55.1% at the end of the 4 years (HR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.67–0.88)). In addition, the impact of statin therapy was stronger in patients with shock at admission (p = 0.035). There were no differences in any individual cardiovascular outcome or adverse event.ConclusionsModerate to high intensity statin therapy might lower all-cause mortality in dialysis patients after acute MI, especially those with shock, but not influence cardiovascular outcomes and any adverse events.