title: The effects of statins on blood pressure in normotensive or hypertensive subjects--a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this meta-analysis was to investigate whether statin therapy is associated with blood pressure (BP)-lowering in patients with or without hypertension.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The beneficial effects of statins on the cardiovascular system may in part be related to effects beyond lipid-lowering. It has been suggested that statins may reduce BP; however the available data are still ambiguous and often conflicting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for the years 1966-January 2012 were searched for studies that investigated the effect of statins on BP in normotensive or in hypertensive subjects. We included all randomized controlled clinical trials that investigated this effect. Changes in systolic and diastolic BP were the key outcomes of interest.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The final analysis included 18 trials and 5628 subjects (4692 normotensive and 936 hypertensive patients) randomized to receive either statins or placebo. The weighted mean difference of systolic (∆SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (∆DBP) in normotensive patients for the 11 statin trials included were 0.03 (95% CI: -0.95-1.02; p = 0.95) and -0.28 (95% CI: -0.80-0.24; p = 0.29), respectively. For hypertensive patients treated with statins (8 trials) the weighted mean difference of ∆SBP and ∆DBP were 1.45 (95% CI: -0.49-3.39; p = 0.14) and -1.32 (95% CI: -3.93-1.28; p = 0.32) respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite previous suggestions statin therapy in normotensive or hypertensive patients does not lead to significant reductions in systolic or diastolic BP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hypertension, Medical University of Lodz, Poland. Electronic address: maciejbanach@aol.co.uk.
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Banach
authors.forename: Shekoufeh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nikfar
authors.forename: Roja
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rahimi
authors.forename: Agata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bielecka-Dabrowa
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Pencina
authors.forename: Dimitri P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Mikhailidis
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Narkiewicz
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rysz
authors.forename: Kausik K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abdollahi
mesh_terms: D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
keywords: Blood pressure; Hypertension; Meta-analysis; Statins; Therapy