Statins in candidemia: clinical outcomes from a matched cohort study.
BACKGROUND
HMG CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) in patients with bacteremic sepsis have shown significant survival benefits in several studies. There is no data on the effect of statins in candidemic patients, however in-vitro models suggest that statins interfere with ergesterol formation in the wall of yeasts.


METHODS
This retrospective matched- cohort study from 1/2003 to 12/2006 evaluated the effects of statins on patients with candidemia within intensive care units. Statin-users had candidemia as a cause of their systemic inflammatory response and were on statins throughout their antifungal therapy, while non-statin users were matched based on age +/- 5 years and co-morbid factors. Primary analysis was 30-day survival or discharge using bivariable comparisons. Multivariable comparisons were completed using conditional logistic regression. All variables with a p-value less than 0.10 in the bivariable comparisons were considered for inclusion in the conditional logistic model.


RESULTS
There were 15 statin-users and 30 non-statin users that met inclusion criteria, all with similar demographics and co-morbid conditions except the statin group had more coronary artery disease (P < 0.01) and peripheral vascular disease (P = 0.03) and lower median APCAHE II scores (14.6 vs 17, p = 0.03). There were no differences in duration of candidemia, antifungal therapy or Candida species between the groups. Statins were associated with lower mortality on bivariable (OR 0.09, 95% CI 0.11-0.75, p = 0.03) and multivariable (OR 0.22, 95% CI 0.02-2.4, p = 0.21) analyses compared to controls; although, in the latter the protective effect lacked statistical significance.


CONCLUSIONS
In our small, single-center matched-cohort study, statins may provide a survival benefit in candidemia, however further studies are warranted to validate and further explore this association.
Forrest
Graeme N
GN
Division of Infectious Diseases, Oregon Health Sciences University and Portland VA Medical Center, Portland, P3-ID, Portland, OR 97239, USA. forrestg@ohsu.edu
Kopack
Angela M
AM
Perencevich
Eli N
EN
D018806:APACHE; D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D016469:Fungemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents