The effect of statins on mortality and cardiovascular disease in primary care hypertensive patients without other cardiovascular disease or diabetes.

Studies in primary healthcare (PHC) assessing the effect of primary prevention with statins on mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD) are scarce. This study aimed to estimate the effect of statins on all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke in individuals in PHC with hypertension without CVD or diabetes. Using the Swedish PHC quality assurance register QregPV, the study included 13 193 individuals with hypertension without CVD or diabetes, who had filled a first statin prescription between 2010 and 2016, and 13 193 matched controls without a filled statin prescription at the index date. Controls were matched on sex and propensity score using clinical data and data from national registers on comorbidities, prescriptions, and socioeconomic status. The effect of statins was estimated in Cox regression models. During a median of 4.2 years of follow-up, 395 individuals in the statin group vs. 475 in the control group died, 197 vs. 232 died of cardiovascular disease, 171 vs. 191 had an MI, and 161 vs. 181 had a stroke. The treatment effect of statins was significant for all-cause mortality [hazard ratio (HR) 0.83, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.74-0.93] and cardiovascular mortality (HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.72-0.998). Overall, no significant treatment effect of statins was seen for MI (HR 0.89, 95% CI 0.74-1.07), but there was a significant interaction with sex (P = 0.008) with decreased risk of MI for women but not for men (HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.49-0.88 vs. HR 1.09, 95% CI 0.86-1.38). Primary prevention with statins in PHC was associated with reduced risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and in women, lower risk of MI. The aim of this Swedish observational register-based study including 13 193 individuals initiating lipid-lowering medication with statins 2010–16, and 13 193 matched controls, was to study the effect of statins in people with high blood pressure without other cardiovascular disease or diabetes regarding risks for cardiovascular disease and mortality. Key findings During a median of 4.2 years of follow-up, 395 individuals in the statin group vs. 475 in the control group died, 197 vs. 232 died of cardiovascular disease, 171 vs. 191 had a myocardial infarction (MI), and 161 vs. 181 had a stroke.Primary prevention with statins was associated with 17% reduced risk of all-cause mortality, 15% reduced risk of cardiovascular mortality, and in women, 34% reduced risk of MI.

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© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

Conflict of interest: S.F. is an employee of AstraZeneca as of 4 October 2021.