Patients using statin treatment within 24 h after admission for ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes had lower mortality than non-users: a report from the first Euro Heart Survey on acute coronary syndromes.
OBJECTIVE
Statins provide effective secondary prevention in cardiovascular disease. However, it remains uncertain how soon statins should be started after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Recently published trials suggest starting before discharge. We hypothesize that statins should be initiated without delay.


RESULTS
Data from a large cohort of 10,484 consecutive patients with an ACS were analysed. Of this cohort, 1426 first-time statin receivers and survivors of the first 24 h were compared with 6771 first-day survivors not receiving statin therapy. A propensity score for the likelihood of receiving statin therapy within 24 h was developed and used with other established risk factors in a multivariable analysis. There was a significantly reduced all-cause 7-day mortality in patients receiving early statin therapy [0.4 vs. 2.6%, unadjusted hazard ratio (HR) 0.16, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.08-0.37, adjusted HR 0.34, 95% CI 0.15-0.79]. Statistical significance was observed in patients presenting with STE-ACS (adjusted HR 0.17, 95% CI 0.04-0.70) and not in NSTE-ACS patients. However, no statistical evidence of heterogeneity in treatment effect was observed between these groups.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that very early statin therapy is associated with reduced mortality in patients presenting with STE-ACS; however, these findings have to be confirmed by prospective, randomized controlled trials before firm treatment recommendations can be given.
Lenderink
Timo
T
Atrium Medical Centre, Heerlen, The Netherlands.
Boersma
Eric
E
Gitt
Anselm K
AK
Zeymer
Uwe
U
Wallentin
Lars
L
Van de Werf
Frans
F
Hasdai
David
D
Behar
Shlomo
S
Simoons
Maarten L
ML
D000368:Aged; D000789:Angina, Unstable / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013577:Syndrome; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors