Do Statins Prevent Cardiovascular Events in Hemodialysis Patients?

Statins reduce LDL levels, but do they reduce cardiovascular risk in patients undergoing hemodialysis, who often have low LDL levels? To find out, investigators conducted a manufacturer-sponsored and -administered, international, randomized, double-blind trial of rosuvastatin (10 mg/day) versus placebo in patients aged 50 to 80 who had been on dialysis for ≥3 months.

The 2773 patients (38% women; average age, 64) were followed for a mean of 3.2 years. At baseline, mean LDL levels were about 100 mg/dL, and median C-reactive protein levels were about 5 mg/L. At 3 months, LDL decreased by 42.9% in the rosuvastatin group, compared with 1.9% in the placebo group. The CRP level decreased by 11.5% in the rosuvastatin group and increased by 0.2% in …