Statin therapy improve with exercise intolerance in patients with chronic heart failure?

Abstract

Background: The 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors (Statins) have pleiotrophic effects such as anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects, which would be beneficial for patients with chronic heart failure(CHF). We investigated the correlation between statin therapy and exercise intolerance in CHF patients. Methods: Seventy-two patients who underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing(CPX) were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into three groups by the 13 patients with CHF on treatment with statin, 37 patients with CHF(statin not used), and 22 control(non CHF). Left ventricular ejection fraction(EF) were measured by echocardiogram. Plasma levels of BNP, interleukin-6(IL-6), tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-alpha were measured in all patients. Results: There were no significant differences in EF among both CHF groups. AT and Peak VO2 of statin CHF group was significantly higher than that in non-statin CHF group(p < 0.001, p < 0.02). TNF-alpha, IL-6 and BNP were significantly higher in the non-statin CHF group than in the statin group(p < 0.05, p < 0.01 p < 0.005, respectively). Futhermore, statin group, EF showed no significant negative correlation with TNF-alpha, IL-6, BNP whereas peak VO2 exhibited significant negative correlations with TNF-alpha(r = −0.51, p < 0.01), IL-6(r=−0.38, p < 0.05), BNP(r=−0.63, p < 0.01). Conclusion: These results suggest that statin therapy might improve with exercise intolerance in patients with chronic heart failure.