Effects of statins and steroids on coronary artery disease and stroke in patients with interstitial lung disease and pulmonary fibrosis: A general population study

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 16; no. 10; p. e0259153
• Main Authors: Yeh, Jun-Jun, Lin, Cheng-Li, Hsu, Nai-Hua, Kao, Chia-Hung
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Francisco Public Library of Science 27.10.2021; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Angina pectoris; Biology and Life Sciences; Cardiovascular disease; Care and treatment; Chronology; Codes; Complications and side effects; Confidence intervals; Consent; Coronary artery; Coronary artery disease; Coronary heart disease; Coronary vessels; Corticoids; Corticosteroids; Diabetes; Fibrosis; Health insurance; Health risks; Heart attacks; Heart diseases; Hospitals; Hypertension; Infections; Ischemia; Kidney diseases; Lung diseases; Medical research; Medicine and Health Sciences; Mortality; Patient outcomes; Physical Sciences; Population studies; Population-based studies; Pulmonary fibrosis; Rheumatism; Sleep disorders; Software; Statins; Statistical analysis; Steroid hormones; Steroids; Steroids (Drugs); Stroke; Stroke (Disease); Vein & artery diseases; Viral infections; Taiwan; China
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259153

To determine the effects of statins and steroids on the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) and stroke in patients with interstitial lung disease and pulmonary fibrosis (ILD-PF). We retrospectively enrolled patients with ILD-PF who were using statins (statin cohort, N = 11,567) and not using statins (nonstatin cohort, N = 26,159). Cox proportional regression was performed to analyze the cumulative incidence of CAD and stroke. Adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of CAD and stroke were determined after sex, age, and comorbidities, as well as the use of inhaler corticosteroids (ICSs), oral steroids (OSs), and statins, were controlled for. Compared with those of patients without statin use, the aHRs (95% CIs) of patients with statin use for CAD and ischemic stroke were 0.72 (0.65-0.79) and 0.52 (0.38-0.72), respectively. For patients taking single-use statins but not ICSs/OSs, the aHRs (95% CIs) for CAD and ischemic stroke were 0.72 (0.65-0.79)/0.69 (0.61-0.79) and 0.54 (0.39-0.74)/0.50 (0.32-0.79), respectively. For patients using ICSs/OSs, the aHRs (95% CIs) for CAD and ischemic stroke were 0.71 (0.42-1.18)/0.74 (0.64-0.85) and 0.23 (0.03-1.59)/0.54 (0.35-0.85), respectively. The findings demonstrate that statin use, either alone or in combination with OS use, plays an auxiliary role in the management of CAD and ischemic stroke in patients with ILD-PF.