Continuation of Statin Therapy and Vasopressor Use in Septic Shock

BACKGROUND: Studies have evaluated the use of statins in sepsis; however, no human studies have explored their effect on vasopressor requirements in septic shock. OBJECTIVE: The primary objective was to determine the effect of prehospital statin continuation on duration of vasopressor therapy in patients with septic shock. Secondary objectives included maximum and average vasopressor dose and in-hospital mortality. METHODS: This was a retrospective, institutional board-approved, observational cohort study in a community teaching hospital; 119 adult intensive care unit (ICU) patients with an ICD-9 code for septic shock and prehospital statin therapy were evaluated. Multivariate analyses were performed to address confounders. RESULTS: Of the 1229 patients screened, 119 (10%) met inclusion criteria; 73 patients (61%) had a statin continued within 24 hours of ICU admission. Crude analysis demonstrated no difference in vasopressor duration in the statin versus no statin group (3.3 vs 4.8 days; P = 0.21). There was no difference in either maximum (17.9 ± 16.1 vs 23.8 ± 21.7 µg/min norepinephrine equivalents [NEQs]; P = 0.1) or average vasopressor dose (9.5 ± 8.4 vs 12.1 ± 11.5 µg/min NEQ; P = 0.17). There was a decrease in mortality in the statin patients (43% vs 67 %; P = 0.05). On adjustment for potential confounders, there was no difference in any outcome, with a persistent trend toward lower mortality in the statin group. CONCLUSION: Continuation of prehospital statin therapy decreased neither duration nor dose of vasopressors in patients with septic shock but yielded a trend toward decreased mortality.