title: The impact of prior long-term versus short-term statin use on the mortality of bacteraemic patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this investigation was to assess the effect of prior statin use on the 30-day in-hospital mortality among bacteraemic patients and to determine the impact of long-term versus short-term statin use on the mortality of bacteraemic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study of 342 bacteraemic patients who presented to the emergency department (ED) within a period of 7 years was undertaken. Twenty-three patients did not meet the inclusion criteria. The remaining 319 patients were divided into three groups according to statin use and duration of therapy prior to the bacteraemic episode: group 1 (n = 123) had long-term statin use ≥ 12 weeks, group 2 (n = 35) had short-term statin use < 12 weeks, and group 3 (n = 161) had no statin use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall 30-day in-hospital all-cause mortality of patients with statins was lower than patients without statin therapy (13 vs. 24%, p = 0.001). The mortality rate in group 1 was lower than in group 2 (11 vs. 17%, p = 0.04). After adjusting for confounding variables, the results of a multiple Cox regression analysis revealed that the absence of statin use (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.98; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.59-5.56, p = 0.001) was associated with increased 30-day in-hospital all-cause mortality in bacteraemic patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Statins reduce the 30-day in-hospital all-cause mortality of bacteraemic patients. Long-term statin use prior to the bacteraemia improves the survival of bacteraemic patients more than short-term statin use.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Unit of Infectious Diseases, Holy Family Hospital, PO Box 8, 16100 Nazareth, Israel. w.nseir@yahoo.com
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Nseir
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Mograbi
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Khateeb
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Abu-Elheja
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Bishara
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Jihad
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Assy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015994:Incidence; D007557:Israel; D057847:Lipid Regulating Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D057847:Lipid Regulating Agents