Abstract 4531: Statin Use Is Associated with Decreased Mortality in Persons with Peripheral Arterial Disease

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We determined whether statin use was associated with lower all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in persons with lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD). We also determined whether favorable associations of statin use with mortality were stronger in persons with higher C-reactive protein (CRP) compared to those with lower CRP levels. Participants were 681 men and women with PAD from the Walking and Leg Circulation Study (WALCS) and WALCS II prospective cohort studies. Participants were identified from non-invasive vascular laboratories in Chicago. Participants attended a baseline visit and annual visits for a mean follow-up of 3.7 years. Statin use was determined at baseline and each annual visit. Outcome measures were all-cause and CVD mortality. Time dependent Cox regression analyses were used to evaluate associations of statin use and mortality. Analyses were also repeated separately in participants with baseline CRP values above vs. below the median for the cohort. Analyses were adjusted for age, sex, race, comorbid conditions, ankle brachial index, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, and other confounders. One hundred fifty five (23%) persons died during follow-up. Two hundred ninety (43%) persons were on a statin at baseline. At baseline, median CRP level was 2.6 mg/L. Statin use was associated with significantly lower all-cause mortality (hazard ratio, 0.52 [95% CI, 0.31 to 0.88], P = 0.014) and CVD mortality (hazard ratio, 0.41 [95% CI, 0.17 to 0.99], P = 0.048) as compared to statin non-use. In persons with CRP >2.6 mg/L, statin use was associated with a significantly lower risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio, 0.44 [95% CI, 0.23 to 0.88], P = 0.019, interaction term P = 0.67) and CVD mortality (hazard ratio, 0.20 [95% CI, 0.06 to 0.65], P = 0.0075, interaction term P = 0.39). However, in persons with CRP < 2.6 mg/L, statin use was not associated with lower mortality. Among persons with PAD, statin use is associated with significantly lower all-cause and CVD mortality at mean follow-up of 3.7 years. This finding is largely attributable to favorable associations of statin use with lower mortality among PAD patients with elevated baseline CRP levels.