Intensive statin regimens for reducing risk of cardiovascular diseases among human immunodeficiency virus-infected population: A nation-wide longitudinal cohort study 2000-2011.

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluated the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in a statin-treated HIV-infected population and the effects of intensive statin regimens (i.e., high-dose or potency) on CVD risks.

METHODS

945 HIV-infected patients newly on statin treatment (144, 15.7% with CVD history) were identified from Taiwan's national HIV cohort. Using the median of the first year cumulative statin dosage as a cut-off point, patients were classified into either a high-dose or low-dose group. Patients were also classified as high-potency (i.e., atorvastatin) or low-potency (i.e., pravastatin) statin users. CVD, including ischemic stroke, coronary artery diseases, and heart failure, were identified after statin use to the end of 2011. Cox hazards regression was applied to assess the time-to-event hazards of CVD in association with intensive statin regimens.

RESULTS

In the HIV-infected population with CVD history, the high-dose group had a lower CVD risk compared to that of the low-dose group (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.88, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.39-1.99). The high-potency group showed a lower CVD risk compared to that of the low-potency group (HR: 0.42, 95% CI: 0.06-3.13). For those without CVD history, the corresponding figures were HR: 0.64 (95% CI: 0.30-1.35) and HR: 0.67 (95% CI: 0.16-2.87). The event rate of new-onset diabetes in high-dose statin group was higher than that in low-dose statin group (15.28% vs. 8.33%), while no muscle complications (i.e., myalgia, myositis, rhabdomyolysis) and dementia were observed in statin users.

CONCLUSIONS

There appears a trend showing a lower CVD risk in HIV patients receiving intensive statin therapy.