The effect of statin therapy on the incidence of infections: A retrospective cohort analysis

John P. Magulick, Christopher R. Frei, Sayed K. Ali, Eric M. Mortensen, Mary Jo Pugh, Christine U. Oramasionwu, Kelly R. Daniels, Ishak A. Mansi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Statins have been postulated to prevent infection through immunomodulatory effects. OBJECTIVES: To compare the incidence of infections in statin users to that in nonusers within the same health care system. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients enrolled as Tricare Prime or Plus in the San Antonio military multimarket. Statin users were patients who received a statin for at least 3 months between October 1, 2004 and September 30, 2005. Nonusers were patients who did not receive a statin within the study period (October 1, 2003-September 30, 2009). Inpatient and outpatient International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes were used to determine the incidence of infections during the follow-up period (October 1, 2005-September 30, 2009) via multivariable regression analysis and time to infection via Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: Of 45,247 patients who met the study criteria, 12,981 (29%) were statin users and 32,266 were nonusers. After adjustments for age, gender, Charlson Comorbidity Score, tobacco use, alcohol abuse/dependence, health care utilization and use of specific medication classes, statin use was associated with an increased incidence of common infections (odds ratio [OR]: 1.13; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06-1.19) but not influenza or fungal infections (OR: 1.06, 95% CI: 0.80-1.39; OR: 0.97; 95% CI: 0.91-1.04, respectively). Time-to-first infection was similar in statin users and nonusers in all infection categories examined. CONCLUSIONS: Statin use was associated with an increased incidence of common infections but not influenza or fungal infections. This study does not support a protective role of statins in infection prevention; however, the influence of potential confounders cannot be excluded.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)211-216
Number of pages6
JournalAmerican Journal of the Medical Sciences
Volume347
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2014

Keywords

  • Fungal
  • Infection
  • Influenza
  • Statin

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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