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Statin intake and all-cause mortality among older nursing home residents

Authors: A De Spiegeleer, J Van Migerode, A Bronselaer, E Wynendaele, M Peelman, F Vandaele, G Byttebier, G De Tré, L Belmans, C Van De Wiele, M Sathekge, D Van Dijck, B Saxberg, M Alexander, D Fedson, D Elewaut, N Van Den Noortgate B De Spiegeleer

Published: Gerontology, 2021

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Background

Statins are progressively accepted as being associated with reduced mortality. However, few real-world statin studies have been conducted on statin use in older people and especially the most frail, that is, the nursing home residents.

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of statin intake in nursing home residents on all-cause mortality.

Method

This is a cross-sectional study of 1,094 older people residing in 6 nursing homes in Flanders (Belgium) between March 1, 2020 and May 30, 2020. We considered all residents who were taking statins for at least 5 days as statin users. All-cause mortality during the 3 months of data collection was the primary outcome. Propensity score overlap-weighted logistic regression models were applied with age, sex, functional status, diabetes, and cardiac failure/ischemia as potential confounders. 

Results

185 out of 1,094 residents were on statin therapy (17%). The statin intake was associated with decreased all-cause mortality: 4% absolute risk reduction; adjusted odds ratio 0.50; CI 0.31–0.81, p = 0.005.

Conclusions

The statin intake was associated with decreased all-cause mortality in older people residing in nursing homes. More in-depth studies investigating the potential geroprotector effect of statins in this population are needed.