TY - JOUR
T1 - An assessment of the effect of statin use on the incidence of acute respiratory infections in England during winters 1998-1999 to 2005-2006
AU - Fleming, D. M.
AU - Verlander, Neville
AU - Elliot, Alex
AU - Zhao, Hongxin
AU - Gelb, D.
AU - Jehring, D.
AU - Nguyen-Van-Tam, J. S.
PY - 2010/9
Y1 - 2010/9
N2 - Statins reduce cardiovascular mortality and related risks associated with pneumonia suggesting potentially beneficial use in influenza pandemics. We investigated the effect of current statin use on acute respiratory infections in primary care. Data from anonymized electronic medical records of persons aged ≥45 years were examined for statin use, chronic morbidity, respiratory diagnoses, vaccination procedures, and immune suppression. Logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) for statin users vs. non-users in respiratory infection outcomes. A total of 329 881 person-year observations included 18% statin users and 46% influenza vaccinees. Adjusted ORs for statin users vs. non-users were: influenza-like illness, 105 (95% CI 092-120); acute bronchitis, 108 (95% CI 101-115); pneumonia, 091 (95% CI 073-113); all acute respiratory infections, 103 (95% CI 098-107); and urinary tract infections, 091 (95% CI 085-098). We found no benefit in respiratory infection outcomes attributable to statin use, although uniformly higher ORs in non-vaccinated statin users might suggest synergism between statins and influenza vaccination.
AB - Statins reduce cardiovascular mortality and related risks associated with pneumonia suggesting potentially beneficial use in influenza pandemics. We investigated the effect of current statin use on acute respiratory infections in primary care. Data from anonymized electronic medical records of persons aged ≥45 years were examined for statin use, chronic morbidity, respiratory diagnoses, vaccination procedures, and immune suppression. Logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) for statin users vs. non-users in respiratory infection outcomes. A total of 329 881 person-year observations included 18% statin users and 46% influenza vaccinees. Adjusted ORs for statin users vs. non-users were: influenza-like illness, 105 (95% CI 092-120); acute bronchitis, 108 (95% CI 101-115); pneumonia, 091 (95% CI 073-113); all acute respiratory infections, 103 (95% CI 098-107); and urinary tract infections, 091 (95% CI 085-098). We found no benefit in respiratory infection outcomes attributable to statin use, although uniformly higher ORs in non-vaccinated statin users might suggest synergism between statins and influenza vaccination.
KW - Acute respiratory infections
KW - infectious disease control
KW - influenza
KW - statins
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77956636977&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1017/S0950268810000105
DO - 10.1017/S0950268810000105
M3 - Article
C2 - 20109259
AN - SCOPUS:77956636977
SN - 0950-2688
VL - 138
SP - 1281
EP - 1288
JO - Epidemiology and Infection
JF - Epidemiology and Infection
IS - 9
ER -