J Infect Dis. (2011) doi: 10.1093/infdis/jir695 First published online: December 13, 2011
Association Between Use of Statins and Mortality Among Patients Hospitalized With Laboratory-Confirmed Influenza Virus Infections: A Multistate Study
Meredith L. Vandermeer1,
Ann R. Thomas1,
Laurie Kamimoto2,
Arthur Reingold3,
Ken Gershman4,
James Meek5,
Monica M. Farley6,
Patricia Ryan7,
Ruth Lynfield8,
Joan Baumbach9,
William Schaffner10,
Nancy Bennett11 and
Shelley Zansky12
+ Author Affiliations
1Oregon Public Health Division, Portland
2Influenza Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
3California Emerging Infections Program, Oakland
4Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Denver
5Connecticut Emerging Infections Program, New Haven
6Emory University School of Medicine and the VA Medical Center, Atlanta, Georgia
7Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Baltimore
8Minnesota Department of Health, St Paul
9New Mexico Department of Health, Santa Fe
10Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee
11University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, New York
12New York State Department of Health, Emerging Infections Program, Albany
Correspondence: Ann Thomas, MD, MPH, Oregon Public Health Division, 800 NE Oregon St, Portland, OR 97212 (ann.thomas@state.or.us).
Abstract
ARTICLE
Background. Statins may have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects that could reduce the risk of mortality from influenza virus infections.
Methods. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Emerging Infections Program conducts active surveillance for persons hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed influenza in 59 counties in 10 states. We analyzed data for hospitalized adults during the 2007–2008 influenza season to evaluate the association between receiving statins and influenza-related death.
Results. We identified 3043 patients hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed influenza, of whom 1013 (33.3% received statins and 151 (5.0%) died within 30 days of their influenza test. Patients who received statins were more likely to be older, male, and white; to suffer from cardiovascular, metabolic, renal, and chronic lung disease; and to have been vaccinated against influenza that season. In a multivariable logistic regression model, administration of statins prior to or during hospitalization was associated with a protective odds of death (adjusted odds ratio, 0.59 [95% confidence interval, .38–.92]) when adjusting for age; race; cardiovascular, lung, and renal disease; influenza vaccination; and antiviral administration.
Conclusions. Statin use may be associated with reduced mortality in patients hospitalized with influenza.
Association Between Use of Statins and Mortality Among Patients Hospitalized With Laboratory-Confirmed Influenza Virus Infections: A Multistate Study
Meredith L. Vandermeer1,
Ann R. Thomas1,
Laurie Kamimoto2,
Arthur Reingold3,
Ken Gershman4,
James Meek5,
Monica M. Farley6,
Patricia Ryan7,
Ruth Lynfield8,
Joan Baumbach9,
William Schaffner10,
Nancy Bennett11 and
Shelley Zansky12
+ Author Affiliations
1Oregon Public Health Division, Portland
2Influenza Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
3California Emerging Infections Program, Oakland
4Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Denver
5Connecticut Emerging Infections Program, New Haven
6Emory University School of Medicine and the VA Medical Center, Atlanta, Georgia
7Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Baltimore
8Minnesota Department of Health, St Paul
9New Mexico Department of Health, Santa Fe
10Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee
11University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, New York
12New York State Department of Health, Emerging Infections Program, Albany
Correspondence: Ann Thomas, MD, MPH, Oregon Public Health Division, 800 NE Oregon St, Portland, OR 97212 (ann.thomas@state.or.us).
Abstract
ARTICLE
Background. Statins may have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects that could reduce the risk of mortality from influenza virus infections.
Methods. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Emerging Infections Program conducts active surveillance for persons hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed influenza in 59 counties in 10 states. We analyzed data for hospitalized adults during the 2007–2008 influenza season to evaluate the association between receiving statins and influenza-related death.
Results. We identified 3043 patients hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed influenza, of whom 1013 (33.3% received statins and 151 (5.0%) died within 30 days of their influenza test. Patients who received statins were more likely to be older, male, and white; to suffer from cardiovascular, metabolic, renal, and chronic lung disease; and to have been vaccinated against influenza that season. In a multivariable logistic regression model, administration of statins prior to or during hospitalization was associated with a protective odds of death (adjusted odds ratio, 0.59 [95% confidence interval, .38–.92]) when adjusting for age; race; cardiovascular, lung, and renal disease; influenza vaccination; and antiviral administration.
Conclusions. Statin use may be associated with reduced mortality in patients hospitalized with influenza.
Comment