title: The impact of statin therapy on long-term cardiovascular outcomes in an outpatient cardiology practice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Statins reduce coronary events in patients with coronary artery disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chart reviews were performed in 305 patients (217 men and 88 women, mean age 74 years) not treated with statins during the first year of being seen in an outpatient cardiology practice but subsequently treated with statins. Based on the starting date of statins use, the long-term outcomes of myocardial infarction (MI), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABGs) before and after statin use were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean follow-up was 65 months before statins use and 66 months after statins use. Myocardial infarction occurred in 31 of 305 patients (10%) before statins, and in 13 of 305 patients (4%) after statins (p < 0.01). Percutaneous coronary intervention had been performed in 66 of 305 patients (22%) before statins and was performed in 41 of 305 patients (13%) after statins (p < 0.01). Coronary artery bypass graft surgery had been performed in 56 of 305 patients (18%) before statins and in 20 of 305 patients (7%) after statins (p < 0.001). Stepwise logistic regression showed statins use was an independent risk factor for MI (odds ratio = 0.0207, 95% CI, 0.0082-0.0522, p < 0.0001), PCI (odds ratio = 0.0109, 95% CI, 0.0038-0.0315, p < 0.0001) and CABGs (odds ratio = 0.0177, 95% CI = 0.0072-0.0431, p < 0.0001)
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Statins use in an outpatient cardiology practice reduces the incidence of MI, PCI, and CABGs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Hoang M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Wilbert S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Aronow
authors.forename: Anthony D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Mercando
authors.forename: Phoenix
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kalen
authors.forename: Harit V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Desai
authors.forename: Kaushang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gandhi
authors.forename: Mala
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Harshad
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Amin
authors.forename: Trung M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Lai