Simvastatin 40 mg daily reduced aortic augmentation index at 12 months compared to placebo (-2.3% vs 1.2%, P=0.007), but this effect was transient and did not persist at 18 months.
RCT (n=88)
Double-blind
randomized
Does simvastatin 40 mg daily improve measures of vascular health including aortic augmentation index in middle-aged adults?
Simvastatin therapy leads to a transient reduction in aortic augmentation index at 12 months that does not persist at 18 months, suggesting limited long-term effects on aortic stiffness.
Absolute Event Rate: -2.3% vs 1.2%
p-value: p=0.007
Background Statins improve endothelial function, but their effects on arterial stiffness and aortic blood pressure in middle‐aged adults are uncertain. Methods and Results This was a prospective, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial of middle‐aged (40‐72 years old) adults who were randomly assigned to receive simvastatin 40 mg (n=44) or placebo (n=44) daily for 18 months to evaluate impact on dementia‐related biomarkers (primary end points) and measures of vascular health (secondary end points). This analysis focuses on the predetermined secondary end points of changes in central aortic blood pressure, aortic augmentation index, and brachial artery flow‐mediated dilation. Measurements were performed at baseline and after 6, 12, and 18 months. Multivariable models were used to identify predictors of these prespecified vascular end points. Study groups were similar at baseline; low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol declined in the statin group but not in the placebo group ( P 0.2). After 12 months, augmentation index decreased from baseline in the statin group compared with the placebo group (−2.3% 5.5% versus 1.2% 5.7%, P =0.007), but by 18 months the response in both groups trend toward baseline (−1.1% 5.8% versus 0.2% 4.8%, P =0.3). Low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol was not associated with changes in augmentation index at any time point. Conclusions Statin therapy led to a short‐term reduction in augmentation index after 12 months, but this effect did not persist after 18 months despite continued reduction in low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. These findings suggest that statins may have a transient effect on aortic stiffness. Clinical Trial Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ . Unique identifier: NCT00939822.
Gepner et al. (Sat,) conducted a rct in Middle-aged adults (n=88). Simvastatin vs. Placebo was evaluated on Change in aortic augmentation index at 12 months (p=0.007). Simvastatin 40 mg daily reduced aortic augmentation index at 12 months compared to placebo (-2.3% vs 1.2%, P=0.007), but this effect was transient and did not persist at 18 months.