Conference Coverage

VIDEO: Statins cut mortality in ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis


 

AT THE ACR ANNUAL MEETING

WASHINGTON – Statins lowered all-cause mortality by 32% in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in a retrospective cohort study.

The magnitude of benefit from statins in these two disease states is greater than that found in the general population (estimated 9%-14% reduction in all-cause mortality) and than that reported in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA, 21% reduction), said Amar Oza, MD, a second-year rheumatology fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, both in Boston.

“This is a unique study. The benefit of statins has not been looked at in AS and PsA, specifically,” Dr. Oza explained. “More data are needed” to establish this benefit with certainty, he added.

The data were presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology, and Dr. Oza discussed the findings in a video interview.

The study compared 2,904 patients with AS or PsA who initiated statins between 2000 and 2014 with 2,904 propensity-matched AS or PsA patients who did not initiate statins during that period. Patients were drawn from a United Kingdom general population database.

The investigators used a propensity score that accounted for 50 confounding variables to match the two cohorts. These variables included, but were not limited to, disease duration, socioeconomic status, body mass index, lifestyle factors, and medication use.

“This study is the first step in elucidating the benefit of statins in AS and PsA. It is a good step forward. If additional data substantiate that AS and PsA patients have a low threshold for statins, I can envision statins for both primary and secondary prevention in this patient population,” Dr. Oza stated.

The authors had no relevant financial disclosures.

The video associated with this article is no longer available on this site. Please view all of our videos on the MDedge YouTube channel.

Recommended Reading

Biologic treatment for psoriasis found to have CVD benefits
MDedge Cardiology
Higher risk of arrhythmia in psoriasis patients
MDedge Cardiology
PsA confers higher risk of cardiovascular disease, events
MDedge Cardiology
Psoriasis severity correlates with aortic vascular inflammation
MDedge Cardiology
EADV: Latest gruesome twosome: Psoriasis spawns renal disease
MDedge Cardiology
Stroke risk rose in autoimmune disease patients after herpes zoster
MDedge Cardiology
EADV: Family history of cardiovascular disease is key in psoriasis patients
MDedge Cardiology
Psoriasis tied to abdominal aortic aneurysm in nationwide study
MDedge Cardiology
Effective psoriasis therapy may reduce coronary plaque burden
MDedge Cardiology
Psoriatic arthritis patients have elevated risk for coronary artery plaque
MDedge Cardiology