TY - JOUR
T1 - Statin use in giant cell arteritis
T2 - A retrospective study
AU - Schmidt, Jean
AU - Kermani, Tanaz A.
AU - Muratore, Francesco
AU - Crowson, Cynthia S.
AU - Matteson, Eric L.
AU - Warrington, Kenneth J.
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2014 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2013/6
Y1 - 2013/6
N2 - Objective. (1) To examine the association between statin use and giant cell arteritis (GCA); (2) to compare the clinical features and disease course of GCA among statin users and nonusers. Methods. For this retrospective study, we reviewed the medical records of all patients with biopsy-positive GCA diagnosed between 1998 and 2008. Using a case-control design, we compared the frequency of statin use in GCA patients to non-GCA population-based subjects who were randomly selected and individually matched by sex, age, and calendar year to the GCA cases. Statin use at diagnosis or index date and during followup was abstracted. In subjects with GCA, clinical information at diagnosis and followup was collected. Results. We included 594 patients, 297 with GCA (73% female), mean age at diagnosis 75 years. The rate of statin exposure at index date was 18.1% for GCA patients versus 33.3% for controls (p < 0.001). Patients using statins were less likely to develop GCA compared with patients not using statins (OR 0.31, 95% CI 0.15-0.6, p < 0.001), even after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors. Among patients with GCA, the presenting clinical features and acute-phase reactants were similar in patients receiving statins compared to those not on statin therapy. These 2 groups were also similar with regard to relapse rate, prednisone tapering, and overall survival. Conclusion. Patients using statins may be less likely to develop GCA compared to patients who are not using statins. Statin use does not appear to modify the clinical presentation or the course of the disease.
AB - Objective. (1) To examine the association between statin use and giant cell arteritis (GCA); (2) to compare the clinical features and disease course of GCA among statin users and nonusers. Methods. For this retrospective study, we reviewed the medical records of all patients with biopsy-positive GCA diagnosed between 1998 and 2008. Using a case-control design, we compared the frequency of statin use in GCA patients to non-GCA population-based subjects who were randomly selected and individually matched by sex, age, and calendar year to the GCA cases. Statin use at diagnosis or index date and during followup was abstracted. In subjects with GCA, clinical information at diagnosis and followup was collected. Results. We included 594 patients, 297 with GCA (73% female), mean age at diagnosis 75 years. The rate of statin exposure at index date was 18.1% for GCA patients versus 33.3% for controls (p < 0.001). Patients using statins were less likely to develop GCA compared with patients not using statins (OR 0.31, 95% CI 0.15-0.6, p < 0.001), even after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors. Among patients with GCA, the presenting clinical features and acute-phase reactants were similar in patients receiving statins compared to those not on statin therapy. These 2 groups were also similar with regard to relapse rate, prednisone tapering, and overall survival. Conclusion. Patients using statins may be less likely to develop GCA compared to patients who are not using statins. Statin use does not appear to modify the clinical presentation or the course of the disease.
KW - Epidemiology
KW - Giant cell arteritis
KW - Hydroxymethylglutaryl coa reductases
KW - Vasculitis
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U2 - 10.3899/jrheum.121150
DO - 10.3899/jrheum.121150
M3 - Article
C2 - 23547221
AN - SCOPUS:84878655723
SN - 0315-162X
VL - 40
SP - 910
EP - 915
JO - Journal of Rheumatology
JF - Journal of Rheumatology
IS - 6
ER -