title: Effects of statin therapy on abdominal aortic aneurysm growth: a meta-analysis and meta-regression of observational comparative studies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether statin therapy reduces the growth rate of small abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs).
  
  
  METHODS
  A meta-analysis and a meta-regression of comparative studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials or observational comparative studies of statin therapy versus placebo or no statin, enrolling individuals with small (<55 mm in diameter) AAAs and reporting AAA growth rate as an outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Study-specific estimates (standardized mean differences [SMDs]) were combined in the fixed- and random-effects model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven adjusted and 4 unadjusted observational comparative studies enrolling 4647 patients with a small AAA were identified. Pooled analysis of all 11 studies suggested a significant reduction in AAA growth rate among patients assigned to statin therapy versus no statin (SMD, -0.420; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.651 to -0.189). Combining the 7 high-quality studies providing adjusted data for growth rates generated an attenuated but still statistically significant result favoring statin therapy (SMD, -0.367; 95% CI, -0.566 to -0.168). The meta-regression coefficient for the baseline diameter was statistically significant (-0.096; 95% CI, -0.132 to -0.061).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Statin therapy is likely effective in prevention of the growth of small AAAs, and may be more beneficial as the baseline diameter increases.
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Shizuoka Medical Center, 762-1 Nagasawa, Shimizu-cho, Shizuoka 411-8611, Japan. kfgth973@ybb.ne.jp
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Takagi
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Yamamoto
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Iwata
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Goto
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Umemoto
mesh_terms: D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011379:Prognosis; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors